The Sofia Court of Appeals sentenced Generali insurance company to pay BGN 135 000 in damages to car accident victim Manuela Gorsova.

The magistrates thus overturned the rule of the Sofia City Court, which in June found no grounds for the insurance company to pay damages to the family. They even obliged the latter to cover the costs in the trial, totaling BGN 21 000, including BGN 800 to be paid to the man guilty for their daughter's fate - world ice-dancing champion, Maxim Staviiski, who caused the traffic accident where she was injured over DUI.

The rule led to protests in front of the company's headquarters.

The amount of BGN 135 000 is the money spent for Manuela's treatment in Israel. Generali can seek compensations from Staviiski as it is his insurance company. Up to now, he has paid about BGN 100 000 under the form of compensations and donations.

The deadly crash occurred in August 2007 after Maxim Staviiski, at the wheel of his Hummer vehicle, veered into the opposite lane on a bridge over the Ropotamo River near the coastal city of Burgas, crashing headlong into another car with four people riding in it.

The driver – a young man, was killed, while one of his passengers - 18-year-old Manuela Gorsova is still in coma.

Staviiski pleaded guilty to drunken driving and received a 2.5 year suspended sentence, with probation of 5 years, in addition to a four-year driving ban.