Cinema seat claimant sues Vue for £12.7m

A claimant is seeking £12.7 million from Vue Entertainment, alleging that a defective cinema seat collapsed beneath him at Islington's Vue Cinema in September 2015. Marcus Hunefalk-Franzen, 60, claims the incident caused him to be "catapulted" forward, resulting in chronic neck and back pain, as well as impaired senses of taste, smell, and hearing. The incident occurred over a decade ago, and the case has escalated from an initial valuation of £50,000 to the current multi-million-pound claim.

Vue Entertainment has acknowledged responsibility for the accident but is contesting the amount of damages being claimed. Court documents filed on behalf of Mr Hunefalk-Franzen describe the moment the chair gave way, stating, "As he alighted, the chair collapsed in on itself and catapulted the claimant forward into the chair in front." It was later discovered that the bolts securing the seat to the floor were missing.

Disputed Damages and Business Impact

Mr Hunefalk-Franzen, who was working as a professional tarot reader at Greenwich Market at the time of the incident, asserts that the long-term effects of his injuries have disrupted lucrative business plans. He claims that chronic pain has derailed ventures including an acting school and a proposed "online psychic platform." He alleges this digital business would have generated £1.5 million by now, allowing him to earn £1 million annually and eventually sell the enterprise for £3 million.

However, Vue's defence team has highlighted Mr Hunefalk-Franzen's pre-existing medical conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and neck pain dating back to 2008. At a recent pre-trial hearing, Central London County Court judge Alan Saggarson noted the claimant's difficulties with concentration and cognitive ability. The judge refused permission to submit a revised expert pain report due to missed deadlines.

The case is not expected to go to trial until the end of 2027.