Comments on: John Redwood welcomes clarification of householders’ liability when clearing snow from outside their homes http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 24 May 2012 20:42:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alan Wheatley http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/#comment-24418 Alan Wheatley Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:39:20 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=5578#comment-24418 Would you require all defendants in a civil litigation case to pay all their expenses up front? After all it is not the defendant who initiated the litigation. One way to win in civil litigation is to show your resources are unlimited with the intention of scaring off the other party who is not so well resourced and may not be able to find the cost, even if they win. Would you require all defendants in a civil litigation case to pay all their expenses up front? After all it is not the defendant who initiated the litigation.

One way to win in civil litigation is to show your resources are unlimited with the intention of scaring off the other party who is not so well resourced and may not be able to find the cost, even if they win.

]]> By: JohnRS http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/#comment-24417 JohnRS Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:28:51 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=5578#comment-24417 Surely it matters not one jot what any politician says, only what the law says and what's legally provable, doesnt it? I doubt if the word of this minister would carry much weight in court. Surely it matters not one jot what any politician says, only what the law says and what's legally provable, doesnt it?

I doubt if the word of this minister would carry much weight in court.

]]> By: Jim http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/#comment-24416 Jim Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:30:58 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=5578#comment-24416 This changes nothing. It is Common Law that states you are liable if you do something that ends up causing an accident. Sadiq Khan has not just overturned hundreds of years of UK legal history. He has just made a typical politicians 'all things to all men' type statement that would be of zero help if a householder was sued in such a situation. You ask him to put it in writing that I cannot be sued for causing an accident after clearing the snow outside my house. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it. Kevin Peat is correct. It's the legal vultures that are ruining this country with their 'where there's blame there's a claim' attitude. No win no fee should be abolished, and all litigants should have to pay their legal expenses up front , and get them back only if they win. Then only the really important and cast iron cases would ever see the light of day. All the 'lets chance it and see if they settle out of court' merchants would melt away faster than snow in August. This changes nothing. It is Common Law that states you are liable if you do something that ends up causing an accident. Sadiq Khan has not just overturned hundreds of years of UK legal history. He has just made a typical politicians 'all things to all men' type statement that would be of zero help if a householder was sued in such a situation. You ask him to put it in writing that I cannot be sued for causing an accident after clearing the snow outside my house. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it.

Kevin Peat is correct. It's the legal vultures that are ruining this country with their 'where there's blame there's a claim' attitude. No win no fee should be abolished, and all litigants should have to pay their legal expenses up front , and get them back only if they win. Then only the really important and cast iron cases would ever see the light of day. All the 'lets chance it and see if they settle out of court' merchants would melt away faster than snow in August.

]]> By: Alan Wheatley http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/#comment-24415 Alan Wheatley Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:29:08 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=5578#comment-24415 This is good news. You do not say where Sadiq Kahn's reply is to be found in the event that a householder should wish it prayed in aid of defending a claim. It really should be on the official record and readily accessible nation wide. i do not wish to pour could water on a worthy and worthwhile initiative, but I do detect there to be plenty of room for lawyers to argue the relative merits of the householder being "reasonable and careful" as against those using the road or footway being "careful themselves". Just who is responsible for that broken leg? Call me a cynic? Of course, when it comes to civil litigation. Never the less, the reply you have received is certainly a move in the right direction. This is good news.

You do not say where Sadiq Kahn's reply is to be found in the event that a householder should wish it prayed in aid of defending a claim.

It really should be on the official record and readily accessible nation wide.

i do not wish to pour could water on a worthy and worthwhile initiative, but I do detect there to be plenty of room for lawyers to argue the relative merits of the householder being "reasonable and careful" as against those using the road or footway being "careful themselves". Just who is responsible for that broken leg?

Call me a cynic? Of course, when it comes to civil litigation. Never the less, the reply you have received is certainly a move in the right direction.

]]> By: Kevin Peat http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/#comment-24414 Kevin Peat Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:49:49 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=5578#comment-24414 The elephant in the room is no-win-no-fee litigation and the surplus of lawyers we have to go with it. It's all making common sense a liability in Britain. The first thing for you to do on getting into power ? Turn at least half of the legal colleges into technical colleges. Then we return to becoming a nation of doers rather than a nation of talking heads. The elephant in the room is no-win-no-fee litigation and the surplus of lawyers we have to go with it.

It's all making common sense a liability in Britain.

The first thing for you to do on getting into power ? Turn at least half of the legal colleges into technical colleges.

Then we return to becoming a nation of doers rather than a nation of talking heads.

]]> By: Chris Woolley http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/02/09/john-redwood-welcomes-clarification-of-householders%e2%80%99-liability-when-clearing-snow-from-outside-their-homes/#comment-24413 Chris Woolley Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:23:08 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=5578#comment-24413 I complained to Wokingham council during the recent snow, when the tractor fitted with a snowplough cleared the roads around us by pushing the snow across the pavements. As most people were going on foot at that time, this caused people, especially mums with children, to have to walk in the road. Not a great idea when cars were slithering on the edge of control. You should maybe take this action up with the council to remind them that common sense goes a long way. I complained to Wokingham council during the recent snow, when the tractor fitted with a snowplough cleared the roads around us by pushing the snow across the pavements. As most people were going on foot at that time, this caused people, especially mums with children, to have to walk in the road. Not a great idea when cars were slithering on the edge of control.

You should maybe take this action up with the council to remind them that common sense goes a long way.

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