Topic: Should public liability payments be capped?
started by: ^Evil_Matt^
Posted by ^Evil_Matt^ on Jun. 09 2002,03:29
Australia is facing a problem with public liability at the moment. With claims going into the millions, and often being paid, insurance premiums rising and people suing for almost anything, things are pretty fucked up. Here's a few examples:1) a local charity was forced to stop offering pony rides for $2 when it's insurance went up $8000.
2) a drunk, 16 (legal age is 18) year old boy is refused entry to a club. He sneaks around the back, climbs a 3m stone wall and breaks into the manager's home (above the club). Manager is inside with family, heres the break in, goes to investigate with big stick and beats him with it. Boy sues. Boy's mother also sues for stress, mental duress, etc. forget how it ended.
3) another boy sues the department of education and training for negligence after losing a fight he started. Wins $750 000.
4) a swimmer drives under the waves on a surf-patroled beach. Lands on a sand bank, becomes paraplegic and sues surf life saving club. Awarded a few million.
5) all of the above were contested in the court system. Which seems to be the opposite of this....
a women was doused fuel and set alight by an ex. She is horribly disfigured for life. Awarded $50 000 in the victim claim's tribunal.
6) in september this year, my year at school has to do work experience. I wrote some letters to some aviation companies (i live near pretty big airport) but all but 1 got knocked back because of insurance even though i the school was going to cover it. I wasn't even going up in the air.
IMO, it needs to be capped at $500 000. what do you think? if you can't vote (my voting comes and goes for some reason) just respond below
-matt
Posted by CatKnight on Jun. 09 2002,03:42
I think the solution is to get rid of stupid judges and trial lawyers rather then post a cap.The government should subsidize law schools to NOT train new trial lawyers hehe.
Posted by Bozeman on Jun. 09 2002,05:00
I can't vote for a cap, because even though these people abused the system, there can still be valid reasons to keep it free of a cap. The law needs to state that the judge can have discretion over the sum, so he can make stupid kids who break into people's houses get $0.01, and families of workers who died in an unsafe working environment everything they need.
Posted by veistran on Jun. 09 2002,21:27
yay, stupid people being stupid and getting payed lots for it 