26/11 victim wins right to sue Taj in UK court
Friday, 20/12/2013
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
LONDON: A British man who was left paralysed in the 26/11 attacks has won the right to have his case for damages against the Taj hotel heard in the UK. The high court accepted his plea on Thursday, conceding that taking his case through the Indian courts could take up to 20 years.
Will Pike, 33, broke his back, pelvis and leg and fractured his left wrist and right elbow after falling 50 feet from the window of his room in the Taj in a bid to escape the terrorists. He is taking legal action against the Indian Hotels Company Ltd, a part of the Tata Group that owns the iconic Taj in Mumbai.
“It is our view, based on expert evidence, that they failed to take account of warnings prior to the attack in November 2008 that their hotel was a target and that they were more concerned with not worrying guests and staff than taking steps to secure their safety,” Pike’s lawyer said.
Rohit Kapadia, appearing for the Taj hotel, challenged Pike’s claim that the case needed to be heard in Britain for a speedy outcome.
