A Fife leisure firm is facing a £1 million lawsuit from a teacher who claims she was injured by one of her own pupils in a go-kart pit lane.
Julie Markie (64), who lives near Fraserburgh, is understood to be suing Glenrothes firm Driveflight after claiming the accident ultimately forced her to quit her job.
Now Mrs Markie, who now walks with a cane, has launched a court action demanding the Fife company compensate her and pay for her loss of earnings.
The alleged incident took place at the indoor Kartstart circuit in Aberdeen when Mrs Markie had been on a school trip with a group of pupils from Peterhead Academy.
Court papers allege that the former craft and design teacher had gone to the trackside to check on one of the schoolboys when the kart driven by the pupil exited the race track via an open gate and entered the pit area ”at speed”.
The documents note that Mrs Markie has developed post-traumatic stress disorder and a pain syndrome affecting her left ankle and foot and right leg as a result, while she also has a lengthy scar on her left foot.
She also walks with a limp and has developed a ”mild” brain injury.
Driveflight has its main headquarters in Glenrothes but is more widely known locally for its trading name Kartstart, which operates indoor tracks in Kirkcaldy and the one at Bridge of Don where the accident took place.
Kartstart is one of the longest established go-karting centres in the UK and has a range of karts to suit all ages, from kiddie karts to more powerful twin-engined karts.
While no one at the company was available for comment, it is understood the Fife firm will vigorously defend itself in court, with solicitors expected to argue that the blame lies firmly with the schoolboy involved.
Documents lodged by solicitors working for Driveflight state: ”Any incident involving the pursuer was the full fault of the pupil.”
The documents state that the pupil had been warned about the dangerous way he was driving the kart shortly before the incident.
The case is expected to be heard some time in the new year.