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People step into a lift in this file photo. Johnny Kong Lin-fat was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder after a lift malfunctioned in Chang Pao Ching Building. Photo: Bloomberg

'Getting stuck in a lift killed my sex drive': Man wins HK$260,000 compensation

A businessman whose sex drive plunged after he was trapped in a lift for 20 minutes was awarded HK$260,000 compensation in the District Court yesterday.

JULIE CHU

A businessman whose sex drive plunged after he was trapped in a lift for 20 minutes was awarded HK$260,000 compensation in the District Court yesterday.

Johnny Kong Lin-fat was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder after a lift malfunctioned in Chang Pao Ching Building on Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, on March 13, 2008.

He sued the building's owners' corporation and Wincome Property Management Company for failing to ensure the lift was in good condition, thus causing him physical and mental trauma from the incident.

"Before the accident, Kong was seriously troubled by his personal, marital and financial affairs. The accident was like the last straw," Deputy Judge Stanley Siu wrote in his verdict.

Siu said the medical evidence showed that the accident only caused Kong to suffer from the condition for one year, but stated Kong deserved compensation.

The court heard Kong operated a travel agency, Meious, in the building. He took the lift as he left his office, but it stalled halfway. A fireman had to help him out some 20 minutes later.

Kong said he suffered constant pain in his neck and left knee and had a phobia of travelling in lifts after the incident. He also had decreased sex drive, insomnia and nightmares.

The plaintiff said his bad dreams involved lift accidents or falling from heights.

Kong said he later closed his agency as he could not concentrate on his work and also divorced his wife after frequent quarrels.

A psychiatrist diagnosed Kong as having post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in November 2008. Two psychiatrists later said Kong had adjustment disorder, a short-term inability to cope with something that causes stress.

The businessman originally demanded HK$950,000 in damages from the two companies.

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