Responding to the Queen’s speech, Group Litigation Lawyer Fraser Whitehead pointed out that the Compensation Act 2006 already provided the protection needed and accused the Government of chasing easy headlines.
He added that the Government was perpetuating the myth of a compensation culture in Britain.
“In all my years as a lawyer frivolous cases such as the ones Chris Grayling seems to think are common place have not been taken on – lawyers simply won’t risk it and a Court would drop it,” Fraser said.
“More worrying is Mr Grayling’s small mention about how this could impact Health and Safety at work. Any erosion of workers’ rights must be resisted as strongly as possible.”
The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill will not guarantee that defendants in such cases are cleared, as it will remain up to the Courts to conclude whether they were negligent.
However a Bill enacted by the previous Labour Government already states circumstances where people are taking part in “desirable acts” for the common good should be taken into consideration.
Fraser Whitehead is National Practice Group Leader for Group Litigation at Slater & Gordon Lawyers in London.
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