TUI Lose Landmark Case – Holiday Illness Claims News
TUI UK the parent company of First Choice Holiday and TUI Holidays have been ordered to pay 49 holidaymakers substantial compensation.January 2011 – Latest News – Cryptosporidium and Salmonella hotel illness outbreak leads to sick holiday makers winning compensation. Simpson Millar Solicitors LLP are experts when it comes to making holiday illness claims
The group contracted salmonella food poisoning and the waterborne infection cryptosporidium during holidays at the Hotel Son Baulo in Ca’n Picafort, Majorca in 2003.
Criticising TUI for continuing to send holidaymakers to the hotel His Honour Judge Worcester sitting at Birmingham County Court said that there were failings in the hotel’s swimming pool faecal accident policy and a failure by TUI Holidays to enforce its own guidance.
The Judge found that TUI Holiday knew or at least should have been aware that the swimming pools were contaminated by human faecal matter but regardless continued to send its customers to the hotel.
Nick Harris, Simpson Millar Head of International Travel Law, said:
“This judgment is very important indeed and will hopefully send a message to tour operators that they cannot continue to subject their customers to almost certain illness simply to make profits.”
Cryptosporidium is a resilient protozoal bug that survives in chlorinated water. Unless hotels ensure that proper procedures are in place and enforced to manage faecal accidents then bathers are at a high risk of infection.
Tour operators are more than aware of the devastating consequences of the bug and the Federation of British Tour Operators has produced guidance in the form of a recommended code of best practice for tour operators to follow.
The cryptosporidium bug causes diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps and is particularly serious in cases involving children and those with reduced immune systems.
Simpson Millar solicitors LLP are specialist Holiday Compensation Claims Solicitors.
If you or any member of your family has been affected by cryptosporidium whilst on holiday call Simpson Millar’s Holiday Claims Team today and find out how to claim compensation from your tour operator on:
Freephone: 08081293329 or drop us a line using the form above.