NADR ARNAOUT was a design student with dreams of being an animator until his encounter with a nude male. A classical nude male statue, that is.

The statue, he claims, was one of several positioned in the corridors of the Kogarah TAFE, where he was studying. They were frequently wheeled into art classes.

One lunchtime in March 2005, Mr Arnaout was leaving the toilet at TAFE, when, he claims, the arm or stump of a statue broke the glass in a swinging door, which then sliced the nerves and tendons in his right thumb.

Before a teacher provided first aid, he asked Mr Arnaout, then 21, whether he had been "mucking around". Mr Arnaout told the District Court yesterday the teacher had walked away, leaving him to bandage his own hand and to walk to hospital.

Microsurgeons reconnected his thumb, complete with nerves and tendons, but he claims the accident reduced his dexterity and grip strength and impaired his "capacity to engage in activities involving the full and free use of the right thumb and hand".

He was left with frequent pain, altered sensations and scarring on his hand, the court heard.

His barrister, David Elliott, told the court Mr Arnaout's ability for free drawing was impaired and his work was now slower because he needed to give his right hand frequent breaks.

Mr Arnaout, who designed the logo for the NSW Olympic Orchestra, has re-enrolled in an advanced TAFE course in the hope of gaining more experience and qualifications to help find a job.

Meanwhile, he is seeking compensation for lost earnings, including about $100 a week for the rest of his working life, claiming that TAFE was negligent in allowing the statues to be placed in the corridors - which are also fire exits - and near the toilets.

The college had also failed to provide free access to the toilets, to use safety glass, and to "obviate a forseeable risk of injury".

Barrister John Catsanos told the court TAFE disputed the accident was caused by the statue with the protruding arm, claiming instead another statue was obstructing the door. He also claimed the glass was broken when Mr Arnaout pushed the door, so it hit the bottom of the statue, but that it was his hand, not the statue's stump, which broke the glass.

The hearing continues.