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Decision awaited on bouncy castle case

A court case over a boy's bouncy castle injury ended with a declaration that war is not being declared on the popular inflatable toys.

Sam Harris was 11 when he suffered brain damage after being kicked in the head by another child while playing on the inflatable at a birthday party.

The party, organised by Tim and Catherine Perry for their triplets, was held at Gordon Junior School playing fields,Strood, on September 10 2005.

Sam, through his mother Janet Harris, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, is suing Mr and Mrs Perry, of Jersey Road, Strood, as well as his father David Harris for more than a million pounds compensation.

Both Mr and Mrs Perry, and Mr Harris, are insured and deny liability in the case.

Decision has been reserved in the case and Judge David Steel said he would give his ruling as soon as possible.

Susan Rodway QC, for Sam, said: "This is not a case against bouncy castles - it's about use of bouncy castles and taking care to use them properly.

"It can't be said that this was a pure accident. It is the claimant's case that this was a preventable accident and the evidence all goes one way towards that."

Mr and Mrs Perry deny all blame for the accident, saying that they told Sam he wasn't allowed to get on to the bouncy castle and that he disobeyed them.

Mr Harris, also of Jersey Road, told the court earlier: "My assumption was that two people were supervising the party and that it was safe in those circumstances. The problem only occurred at the moment the bigger boy acted irresponsibly."

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