The District Court on Friday ruled in Mo Li Kai-yin’s favour after finding “clear suspicion” that his employer, Studiodanz, evaded civil liability under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance by failing to appear at court proceedings.

Judge Phillis Loh Lai-ping said the compensation lawsuit had been dragged on for long enough and hoped the remaining proceedings would not cause too much “suffering” to Li, who has been paralysed from the neck down since the accident at Hong Kong Coliseum on July 28, 2022.

The ordinance provides a mechanism for workers to claim damages arising from accidental injuries during their employment.

Li, 30, would be entitled to more than HK$3.5 million (US$445,890) in compensation if the court found his injury resulted in permanent total incapacity, according to the Post’s estimate under the law.

Section 7 of the ordinance stipulates that an employee aged below 40 who is completely incapacitated for life shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equivalent to 96 months’ earnings or HK$3,508,800, whichever is lower.

Li stated in his writ that his monthly income was more than HK$73,000 before the accident.