China badminton player paralysed after standing on stray cat in stadium during game, court orders feline ‘keeper’ pay US$33,000 in compensation
- Stadium employee feeds, bathes stray cat, court holds him liable for injury
- Story attracts 5.36 million views, 13,000 comments, many say employer should pay
A court in China has ordered a man who fed a stray cat to pay compensation of 240,000 yuan (US$33,000) to a badminton enthusiast who was paralysed when the feline tripped him up during a game.
The man, surnamed Xiao, an employee of a badminton stadium in Shanghai, must bear legal responsibility because the cat caused harm to a man, surnamed Wu, who was playing badminton, Shanghai Video reported.
In April, Wu joined his colleagues to play badminton but they did not notice there was a cat on the court.
Wu was engrossed in the game, focusing on his colleague who was ready to serve the shuttlecock. After he jumped to return the serve, he felt himself land on something furry.
He lost his balance and fell to the ground. In hospital, Wu was diagnosed with compound fractures and paralysis in his right leg.
He later sued the badminton stadium and its employee and put in a request for compensation of 350,000 yuan (US$49,000).
