Gambling addict adds personal injuries claim to the case
28th February, 2008
Greyhound trainer Graham Calvert, 28, from Houghton Le Spring, who is suing William Hill for negligence at the High Court in London, is now adding a new charge to the case by claiming that the bookmakers are also guilty for the personal injuries he has experienced due consequences of his habit.
Calvert’s lawyer is trying to prove that the breakup of Calvert’s marriage, the loss of his livelihood and his damaged health as well as the money loss are all the results of William Hill’s actions, or lack of them.
Mr Justice Michael Briggs was the one to grant Calvert the permission to widen his claim.
The outcome of this case will determine the tendency for similar cases in the future, i.e. if William Hill is to be proven guilty in both claims, future bookmakers are more likely to be proven guilty too.
The verdict is to be issued in writing some time later on.
Calvert, who claims to have lost around £2.1 million in six months, has been “diagnosed” by his lawyer as a compulsive gambler.
Anneliese Day, who is the “victim’s” counsel, has stated that the bookmakers should be punished for "negligent encouragement and inducement", as apparently they have ignored his requests to restrict him from using the site on two occasions.
Instead the bookmakers encouraged the man to keep betting, attracting him with huge betting sprees.
