Russian Tycoon Threatens to Sue £17,500-a-year Prep-School after 6 Year Old Son Loses Finger in Classroom Door
Six year old Leon Lesnevskiy has lost the tip of his middle finger after it became trapped in the hinge of a door as he exited a classroom at £17,500-a-year Danes Hill Prep School.
The boy’s father, Russian Tycoon Dmitriy Lesnevskiy is now threatening to sue Danes Hill – one of Britain’s most prestigious prep schools – demanding damages for their son’s ‘excruciating pain and suffering’ which resulted in him having part of his finger amputated.
The missing part of the boy’s finger was handed to a paramedic in a plastic bag but could not be reattached at a local hospital after an hour-long surgery.
Elena, Leon’s Mother said: “Leon was completely distraught. He was crying and in so much pain. When I sent my child to school I expect him to be safe. Leon is very stressed out. He is off school. He is normally such a happy boy. He is clearly upset by the whole thing.”
Mr Lesnevskiy brought in lawyers from the London firm Mishcon de Reya to help handle the situation, however were unsatisfied when the school refused a meeting with a lawyer present.
Mishcon de Reya sent Danes Hill’s headmaster Willie Murdock a “pre-action protocol” letter of claim.
The letter states: “In the course of exiting the classroom, Leon’s middle finger on his left hand became trapped in the hinge side of a door. Leon was unable to extract it for several seconds. He was in excruciating pain”.
Peter Steen, a litigation partner at Mishcon de Reya, said: “You would expect a school that is responsible for a six year old boy who has suffered a serious injury to be more contrite. Nobody has said sorry to us. All they have said is ‘all of our thoughts are with Leon'”.
The legal letter says that the school had a “statutory duty of care” to Leon and that it’s understood a safety device to prevent “plainly foreseeable finger trap injuries” should have been fitted to the door.
The letter also says that Leon’s injury “is likely to be long lasting” and will affect his ability to play sport and play the piano.
Danes Hill School said in a statement to the Telegraph: “This was an unfortunate accident. The school takes the safety of all its pupils extremely seriously.”
