A home helper injured by a 'hot-tempered' 80-year-old yesterday lost her multi-million dollar lawsuit against the social welfare organisation that sent her to care for him. Deputy Judge Gerard Muttrie ruled that there was no reason for Sheng Kung Hui Diocesan Welfare Council to have known there was a 'real risk' in sending Tam Sau-fong, 45, to help Ngan Muk-fu. 'He had no history of violence, nor was there any reason for the defendant to think that he would act violently,' the judge said. 'On the evidence as it stands, I can only see violence as a mere possibility.' The Court of First Instance had heard Ms Tam suffered injuries to her back and left shoulder on October 4, 1996, and lost most of the use of her left hand. She was seeking more than $4.8 million in damages, claiming the council was negligent by unreasonably exposing her to the risk of injury in providing home care to Mr Ngan. Ms Tam had testified that Mr Ngan, who she called hot-tempered, exposed himself to her inside his flat in September 1995 and she stopped working for him in March 1996. However, six months later, a new supervisor sent Ms Tam to work for Mr Ngan at his Chuk Yuen South Estate flat in Wong Tai Sin. On October 4, 1996, Ms Tam was cleaning when she heard him fighting with a neighbour. She tried to intervene but was thrown against a window. Mr Ngan then grabbed an iron pipe and a struggle ensued. Ms Tam was later sent to Kwong Wah Hospital for treatment. Medical reports showed she received regular follow-up treatment and had an operation to remove a nerve tumour she says developed as a result of the attack. Deputy Judge Muttrie found the defendant not liable and dismissed Ms Tam's claim.
