A LEGAL secretary, who sought £30,000 damages for a hair perm she alleged went terribly wrong, has been told her claim should have been consigned to the small claims court. Judge Harvey Kenny said the action had taken up a full day in the Circuit Civil Court and had displaced a number of other cases.
He said it was not the plaintiff's fault. It was obligatory on her solicitor not to lodge such an action in the Circuit Court and it was equally obligatory on solicitors for the defendants to see it was remitted to the small claims court if necessary.
Judge Kenny said he would not put up with bad case management in future.
Ms Carol Anne Johnson (25), of Hermitage Oaks, Lucan, Co Dublin, claimed she was treated "like a leper" by other hairdressers she went to in an attempt to have her damaged hair treated.
She sued John and Angela Kane, of Gary Jones Hair Creation, Walkinstown Mall, Dublin, and Wella Rapid Ltd.
Judge Kenny heard she developed a rash on her ears and scalp and her hair became scraggy and fell out "in vast amounts" after the perm more than two years ago. While it had stopped falling out, she believed it would never be the same again.
Mr Terry O'Sullivan, counsel for the defendants, said Ms Johnson had failed to produce any medical evidence with regard to the alleged rash or the state of her hair at the time.
Judge Kenny awarded her £500 damages and measured costs against the defendants at £400.