Victim says the company should be liable for the negligence of the event's organiser
Auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is facing a lawsuit filed by an employee who lost half of his skull in an after-hours work event in back 2019.
The victim is a 28-year-old auditor who took part in a so-called "pub golf" outing, where employees allegedly visit nine bars and consume a specific alcoholic drink.
According to the lawsuit reported by The Guardian, the outing saw employees who had the fewest swigs to consume their drink getting the best scores, which were then recorded on cards that were printed and distributed at the office.
The Guardian report, citing court filings, said that the victim had no memory of the latter part of the event due to intoxication and was later found lying in the street with serious head injury after he was presumed to have fallen over.
Following the incident, the victim was placed in an induced coma and had to have parts of his skull removed. He also spent months recovering from a "moderate-severe brain injury" before returning as a part-time employee in October 2019.
He would remain there as an employee and would later be promoted as a full-time manager by January 2022.
Victim sues
In his personal injury claim, the victim said his employer should be liable for the negligence of the organiser of the event, who was also a manager in the office audit department there.
The employee alleged that the manager failed to take care of the workers and further claimed that they were heavily pressured to attend the event.
"I expect absolute attendance from all of those who attended last year's invitational. Nothing short of a certified and countersigned letter by an accredited medical practitioner will suffice as excuse," read the original invite from one of the company's managers, which was cited in the court filing.
The victim is suing for over £200,000, as well as additional future payments. He claimed that he is still experiencing "persistent cognitive symptoms," and could develop epilepsy in the long-term because of his injuries.
PwC said in a statement that they are "unable to comment on the specifics of a matter that is subject to ongoing legal proceedings."
"As a responsible employer we are committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive culture for all of our people. We also expect anyone attending social events to be responsible and to ensure their own safety and that of others."
The said annual "pub golf" work event has since been stopped following the 2019 incident with the victim, according to reports.
