ABU DHABI // The British tourist who says she was injured by a falling wardrobe panel in her hotel room has increased her compensation claim from Dh20 million to Dh70m.
Natalie Creane claims she suffered brain damage and epileptic seizures after the 2.2kg panel fell on her head at the Emirates Palace hotel in 2008.
Her lawyer told the Civil Appeals Court yesterday that her compensation needed to be increased by Dh50m because her medical condition was deteriorating.
Mrs Creane’s original claim was for physical and emotional injury, and for her medical bills.
The Civil Court had awarded her Dh100,000 for health damages and Dh100,000 for emotional problems, but dismissed her claim for medical expenses on the ground that she had not presented any bills to prove the cost of treatment.
At the earlier hearings, the hotel argued that Mrs Creane had been able to continue her life as normal after the accident, and used pictures of her wedding from Facebook to counter her claims.
It said the wardrobe panel could not have inflicted the injuries she claims because it weighed so little, and dismissed the effects on her health as “a figment of her imagination”.
The case was adjourned to April 30.
hdajani@thenational.ae
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE SPECS
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Transmission: six-speed manual
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
