10/28 LONDON, (Reuter), With Permission

A British judge, ruling in a landmark case brought by a journalist
against his former employers, said on Thursday there was no such
condition as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). In a 90-minute verdict,
Judge John Prosser said RSI was a glibly-used label that was
"meaningless" and had "no place in the medical books."

He ruled against financial reporter Rafiq Mughal, 44, who had claimed
damages and lost earnings from the international news and information
agency Reuters, at whose headquarters in London he worked from 1987 to
1989.

The judge described Reuters as prudent and careful employers and said
that a painful condition in Mughal's arms and shoulders was due to
personal factors rather than conditions at work.

Mughal, who was not in court, has not worked since he accepted
redundancy from Reuters in late 1989.

Mughal, who is married with three children, told the judge during a
week-long hearing in June that he had been in constant pain since
developing RSI in 1988 and could still not carry out simple household
tasks.

His case was supported by Britain's National Union of Journalists
(NUJ), which will be responsible for defence costs incurred by Reuters
of more than 100,000 pounds ($150,000). The judge was told after the
ruling that Mughal had turned down an offer of 20,000 pounds ($30,000)
to settle out of court.

The judgment was a major setback for journalists and other keyboard
operators suffering from painful wrist and arm conditions that they
believe are linked to the persistent use of computer editing terminals.

The judge said medical opinion was divided over RSI, but he was most
impressed by a hand surgeon who had given evidence on behalf of Reuters
and had stated: "RSI is not a disease or diagnosis, but a label."

The judge added: "RSI is in reality meaningless in that it has no
pathology. RSI is too easy a term to use and its use serves to
confuse...anyone can call anything RSI."

A spokesman for the NUJ, which has 73 other cases in the legal pipeline
and more than 200 members suffering from what it terms RSI, said: "We
are horrified."

The union said an appeal was being considered and urged other RSI
sufferers not to be disheartened.

A spokesman for Reuters said: "We are naturally satisfied with this
judgment. Reuters employees are its greatest asset and we employ the
very best techniques and procedures to protect and assist them with
their work."