Crash man’s compo goes to ex wife

By DAN SALES

7th February 2011, 4:02 pm

Updated: 4th April 2016, 7:25 pm

A ROAD crash amputee is battling to keep his £500k compensation in a legal first – after being ordered to pay over half to his divorced wife.

Kevin Mansfield, 41, was awarded the cash after losing his leg and suffering
spinal injuries as a student in a car smash in 1992.

But at a divorce hearing in May last year a judge ruled his then wife Catherine, 37, should get £285,000.

The money had been given to Kevin, of Chelmsford, Essex, to pay for future
care for his disabilities.

Now he has had to sell his car on eBay and faces losing his home as he tries
to make ends meet.

Yesterday Kevin was in London’s Civil Appeal Court as Lady Justice Black
awarded him the power to appeal against the decision.

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She said: “The case is unique because the only capital arises from the damages awarded and he met the wife in circumstances of enduring disability.

“The husband’s disabilities are an important factor in this case.”

He met his now ex-wife Catherine, 37, less than five years after he received a £500,000 compensation payout in 1998.

Unique

After having two children together they split in 2008 but at their divorce hearing in May last year the sum was divided between them.

Outside court after the hearing yesterday Alan Barton, who represented him in court, stressed the unique nature of the appeal.

He said: “It is a very unusual case. “There have only been three cases involving similar situations in legal history, and nothing exactly like this before.

“It is much more difficult for a disabled person to go through a divorce than an able-bodied person, specially when, as in this case, there are young
children involved.  “Which comes first – your injuries, future care and needs or the children?”

The full hearing will now take place before three judges at a date to be set unless the ex-couple can settle their differences.