fallpayouts
1
Reporting local life since 1854 40p Monday, October 15, 2012 SEN-eO1-S2 [P/R] [P/R] CROUCH HAS NO FEAR ‘WE’RE GOING TO OLD TRAFFORD FULL OF CONFIDENCE...’ Tributes paid to victim of crash FLOWERS have been left at the scene of a hit-and-run which left a woman dead. The tributes had mounted up by this morning following the fatal incident which happened in Leek on Friday. Police are now appealing for anyone who saw the incident to come forward so they can piece together the movements of the driver who fled the scene. The identity of the victim has not been officially confir med. See Page 3 No land sale for centre bid QUESTIONS have been raised about the future of a major retail development. It comes after a letter leaked from Stoke-on-Trent City Council shows the authority is refusing to sell land to the Potteries Shopping Centre. The centre needs to purchase the land in Hanley to press ahead with its plans for an extension. See Page 5 £1m COST OF FALL PAYOUTS Legal bills account for half of money IS THIS THE SAVIOUR OF PORT VALE? SEE BACK PAGE BY ALEX CAMPBELL [email protected] COMPENSATION claims for slips, trips and falls have cost a council almost £1 million in a year – with more cash pocketed by lawyers than the residents who were injured. Stoke-on-Trent City Council settled 86 claims for injuries caused by its negligence in 2011/12 – forking out £363,173 in compensation. But figures show ‘no-win, no- fee’ lawyers representing claimants pocketed £337,445, while the council spent £291,422 on its own legal bills and fees. In at least 31 cases the amount spent to cover claimants’ legal fees was more than the compensation awar- ded by the court. One claimant won £1,250 compensation – only for their lawyers to receive £20,630 for winning the case. The biggest indi- vidual settlement in the last financial year saw one claimant receive £45,000, while their lawyers received a further £19,250. Council lead- ers admit they take a “defens- ive” view on compensation claims, which could lead to more cases reaching court and running up costly legal bills. Imminent Government changes designed to deter spurious claims and tackle ‘compensation culture’ will lead to strict caps on the amount lawyers can claim. ‘No-win, no-fee’ solicitors currently bill councils and other public bodies for a ‘suc- cess fee’ to cover their costs if a claim is won. But in future they will have to cover their costs by taking up to 25 per cent of the total amount paid out in com- pensation. It is hoped the move will drive down council costs and reduce insurance bills, although critics say genuine claimants could miss out if legal firms pick and choose which cases they accept. Melissa Turner, aged 35, of Fenton, said: “If people are being injured because of something the council has done wrong then they should get compensation and the council shouldn’t take it to court because obviously that’s where the money is going.” City council deputy leader, Councillor Paul Shotton, pic- tured below, who is also cab- inet member for finance, said: “Over 70 per cent of claims are successfully defended without any costs being incurred by the council. “Stoke-On-Trent City Coun- cil takes a defensive stance against all claims which we believe are unjustified and we work closely with our insurers to make sure our legal costs are minimised.” Legal firms argue that the ‘no-win, no-fee’ system provides access to justice for people who cannot afford it. In the 2010/11 financial year, £4 million was paid in com- pensation to claimants by the region’s three main councils, including £1.7 million from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Is the council right to fight claims? Email us at letters@ thesentinel.co.uk Comment: Page 10 BACK PAGE THEME PARK PLANS NEW £18M RIDE PLANS: Potteries Shopping Centre. Visit our Showroom: 481 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke on Trent ST4 6AA Call Glyn for a FREE estimate: 01782 662133 www.dreamdoors.co.uk Have you always wanted the kitchen of your dreams, but can’t quite justify paying the expensive price tag that comes with it? Now you can by just swapping the doors and worktops. ORDER NOW & WE’LL FIT IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS* • Huge choice of Doors, Worktops, Appliances, Sinks & Taps • From doors to complete kitchens • Free Estimating and planning • Installed in 1-2 days by professionals View our credentials at *Terms & Conditions apply Are you dreaming of a new kitchen this Christmas?
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Transcript of fallpayouts
Reporting local life since 1854 40pMonday, October 15, 2012
SEN
-eO1
-S2
[P/R
]
[P/R]
CROUCH HAS NO FEAR ‘WE’RE GOING TOOLD TRAFFORD FULLOF CONFIDENCE...’
Tributes paid tovictim of crashFLOWERS have been left atthe scene of a hit-and-runwhich left a woman dead.
The tributes had mountedup by this morning followingthe fatal incident whichhappened in Leek on Friday.
Police are now appealing foranyone who saw the incidentto come forward so they canpiece together the movementsof the driver who fled thes c e n e.
The identity of the victimhas not been officiallyconfir med.
See Page 3
No land salefor centre bidQUESTIONS have been raisedabout the future of a majorretail development.
It comes after a letter leakedfrom Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil shows the authorityis refusing to sell land to thePotteries Shopping Centre.
The centre needs topurchase the land in Hanleyto press ahead with its plansfor an extension.
See Page 5
£1m COSTOF FALLPAYO U T S
Legal bills account for half of money
IS THIS THESAVIOUR OFPORT VALE?
SEE BACK PAGE
BY ALEX [email protected]
COMPENSATION claims forslips, trips and falls have cost acouncil almost £1 million in ayear – with more cash pocketedby lawyers than the residentswho were injured.
Stoke-on-Trent City Councilsettled 86 claims for injuriescaused by its negligence in2011/12 – forking out £363,173 inc o m p e n s at i o n .
But figures show ‘no-win, no-fee’ lawyers representingclaimants pocketed £337,445,while the council spent£291,422 on its own legal billsand fees. In at least 31 cases theamount spent to covercl a i m a n t s ’ legal fees was morethan the compensation awar-ded by the court.
One claimant won£1,250 compensation –only for their lawyersto receive £20,630 forwinning the case.
The biggest indi-vidual settlement in thelast financial year sawone claimant receive£45,000, while theirlawyers received
a further £19,250. Council lead-ers admit they take a “defens-ive ” view on compensationclaims, which could lead tomore cases reaching court andrunning up costly legal bills.
Imminent Governmentchanges designed to deterspurious claims and tackle‘compensation culture’ willlead to strict caps on theamount lawyers can claim.
‘No-win, no-fee’ solicitorscurrently bill councils andother public bodies for a ‘suc-cess fee’ to cover their costs if aclaim is won. But in future theywill have to cover their costs bytaking up to 25 per cent of thetotal amount paid out in com-p e n s at i o n .
It is hoped the move willdrive down council costs andreduce insurance bills,although critics say genuine
claimants could miss out iflegal firms pick and choosewhich cases they accept.
Melissa Turner, aged 35,of Fenton, said: “If people
are being injured because ofsomething the council has
done wrong thenthey should get
c o m p e n s at i o n
and the council shouldn’t takeit to court because obviouslyt h at ’s where the money isgoing.”
City council deputy leader,Councillor Paul Shotton, pic-tured below, who is also cab-inet member for finance, said:“Over 70 per cent of claims aresuccessfully defended withoutany costs being incurred by thecouncil.
“Stoke-On-Trent City Coun-cil takes a defensive stanceagainst all claims which webelieve are unjustified and wework closely with our insurersto make sure our legal costs areminimised.”
Legal firms argue that the‘no-win, no-fee’ systemprovides access to justice forpeople who cannot afford it.
In the 2010/11 financial year,£4 million was paid in com-pensation to claimants by there gion’s three main councils,including £1.7 million fromStoke-on-Trent City Council.
Is the council right to fightclaims? Email us at [email protected]
Comment: Page 10
BAC KPAG E
THEME PARKPLANS NEW£18M RIDE
PLANS: Potteries Shopping Centre.
Visit our Showroom:481 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke on Trent ST4 6AA
Call Glyn for a FREE estimate: 01782 662133www.dreamdoors.co.uk
Have you always wanted the kitchen of your dreams, but can’t quite justify paying the expensiveprice tag that comes with it? Now you can by just swapping the doors and worktops.
ORDERNOW&WE’LL FIT IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS*•Huge choice of Doors,Worktops, Appliances, Sinks & Taps• Fromdoors to complete kitchens• Free Estimating and planning• Installed in 1-2 days by professionals
View our credentials at
*Terms & Conditions apply
Are youdreamingof a newkitchen this Christmas?
