Cocktails controversy
Following a front-page article in an issue of Cherwell last term, Maxwell's bar is considering suing the student newspaper.
The Cherwell story reported alleged bad management of an incident by Maxwell's in June, when an LMH student swallowed ground glass found in her cocktail. However the current manager of the bar believes there were "major inaccuracies" in the article, which he says was "blown all out of proportion".
According to Cherwell Emma Phillips, the PPE student involved, labelled Maxwell's response on the night as "insincere and useless." However Maxwell's staff dispute this, saying Phillips was aware that they did everything they could to help. But Phillips herself has countered their response, telling The OxStu that Maxwell's "dealt with it terribly", adding that the manager on the night was "very unhelpful".
Phillips is also insistent that the Cherwell was correct to point out that an X-ray clearly showed the bottom of her stomach lined with glass, although Maxwell's staff believe an X-ray would not prove this. Medical sources have confirmed to The OxStu that glass will show up in an X-ray, supporting Cherwell's claims. Maxwell's however further questions references to "fragile" jugs, stating that sturdy plastic jugs have been used by the bar since before the incident.
The bar managers say there was no need to consider compensation as they dealt with the matter efficiently. Staff were also baffled to learn that Phillips was considering legal action, but again, Phillips confirmed to OxStu that this is the case.
Although Phillips spoke to the Oxford manager on the night of the incident, as well as the next day, and Operations Manager, Scott Yumsak tried to ring her, she received no official contact until "ages later" in a letter that contained no apology, but stated they were looking into the incident. Phillips commented that she was "really stressed" as the accident occurred in the run-up to Mods.
Yumsak believes that Maxwell's reputation around the University was "most definitely damaged" by the negative press coverage. He also told OxStu that the Health and Safety Council assessed the establishment two days later and were completely happy. No one has yet taken legal action regarding the matter.
16th Oct 2003