Council ‘no soft touch on cash claims over slips and trips’

Since the beginning of the year, the council has successfully contested three claims where people have tried to claim compensation for injuries allegedly caused by trips and falls they claimed were the fault of the council through poor maintenance.

In each case, the damages claimed were between £2,300 and £3,800 but the claimants’ legal costs ranged from £28,000 to £33,000.

The council contested the claims. Two found in favour of the council when they came to court and the third was dropped by the claimant just two days before the hearing. As a result, all three claimants are now liable to pay the council’s legal costs.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for performance and resources, Coun John Beacroft-Mitchell, said: “If the council had not contested these claims, then it would have been faced with paying out a total of more than £112,000 of council taxpayers’ money.

“While it is right that organisations should pay compensation when there is a proven case of liability, all too often councils have been seen as a “soft touch” by people making dubious compensation claims in order to make a fast buck – often egged on by ambulance-chasing claims firms.

“In many cases, councils have settled claims out of court in order to avoid the time and expense of fighting the claim. But we are determined to tackle the compensation culture. Wherever we think a claim is fraudulent, we will fight it through the courts.

“Councils, including Calderdale, face enormous financial challenges and we are not prepared to simply hand over money in order to avoid the possibility of legal costs.”

Calderdale’s assistant head of finance, Stuart Milner, said sharp-eyed council insurance officers had spotted anomalies in the three most recent claims and jointly worked with the council’s insurers and external solicitors in challenging the claims.

“Our officers are extremely vigilant when claims come in and are highly skilled at identifying claims where they think people may be trying it on.”