SI 4 BHA
Active member
Just received this from the Federation of Small Businesses.
"The Regional Committee supports MP Norman Baker in his efforts to stop the unfair claims often brought against small businesses by customers. Please read the extract below.
SEAFORD MP Norman Baker has called for an end to people claiming compensation for personal injury caused by their 'own stupidity'. The Liberal Democrat MP presented a Bill to parliament which he said would promote personal responsibility.
The wording of the Bill says it would 'place upon the individual a greater responsibility for the consequences for him of his own actions'. It adds that in any civil or criminal action, a court must take into account that a person is responsible for whatever may happen to them as a result of their own actions, unless there has been a 'clear breach' of a duty of care or a deliberate act has caused that person injury. It goes on to suggest amendments to existing laws, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, to add the phrase, "Nothing in this Act shall impose any liability on any person for any accidental injury or damage suffered by any other person which could have been averted if (they) had used common sense."
Mr Baker said, "People should no longer be able to bring successful law suits when they have suffered harm through their own stupidity and irresponsible behaviour. We should be placing on everyone a greater responsibility for the actions they take and encouraging people to be sensible and not reckless.
This Bill will affect genuine claims for injuries suffered through no fault of a claimant, but it will restrict the recovery of compensatory awards when incidents in the workplace and elsewhere could have been averted through the exercise of common sense. There needs to be a change in the way people view the bringing of personal injury actions and this is a good place to start."
About bloody time people took a bit of responsibility for their own stupidity, instead of looking for someone to blame and sue!
"The Regional Committee supports MP Norman Baker in his efforts to stop the unfair claims often brought against small businesses by customers. Please read the extract below.
SEAFORD MP Norman Baker has called for an end to people claiming compensation for personal injury caused by their 'own stupidity'. The Liberal Democrat MP presented a Bill to parliament which he said would promote personal responsibility.
The wording of the Bill says it would 'place upon the individual a greater responsibility for the consequences for him of his own actions'. It adds that in any civil or criminal action, a court must take into account that a person is responsible for whatever may happen to them as a result of their own actions, unless there has been a 'clear breach' of a duty of care or a deliberate act has caused that person injury. It goes on to suggest amendments to existing laws, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, to add the phrase, "Nothing in this Act shall impose any liability on any person for any accidental injury or damage suffered by any other person which could have been averted if (they) had used common sense."
Mr Baker said, "People should no longer be able to bring successful law suits when they have suffered harm through their own stupidity and irresponsible behaviour. We should be placing on everyone a greater responsibility for the actions they take and encouraging people to be sensible and not reckless.
This Bill will affect genuine claims for injuries suffered through no fault of a claimant, but it will restrict the recovery of compensatory awards when incidents in the workplace and elsewhere could have been averted through the exercise of common sense. There needs to be a change in the way people view the bringing of personal injury actions and this is a good place to start."
About bloody time people took a bit of responsibility for their own stupidity, instead of looking for someone to blame and sue!
this comes, frankly, as a seismic shock to the core of my believe system. i agree with Norman Baker on something. but its Norman Baker. 
