Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-02-05, Page 5Readers pen concerns over liability costs, insensitivity Dear Editor: In the current climate of near - hysteria over the skyrocketing costs of liability insurance facing govern- ments, cities, towns and institutions all over the country, one is apt to overlook the impact upon two impor- tant groups of citizens, the individual property owners and the volunteer service organizations. A wave of paranoia is sweeping the land originating in California's sunny land of insanity and greed, that prompts formerly responsible people to sue anyone and everyone involved in their misfortunes for all they can get. The previous attitude of "Sorry, guess I had too much to drink" or "How many times have I told you not to climb their tree?" is submerged by the enraged bellow of "I'l1 sue!". There are many tragic accidents, of course, resulting in death or perma- nent injury which do illustrate a need for better safety, especially cases in- volving children. But in a growing number of cases, the victim is award- ed huge compensations despite evidence of risky behaviour or poor judgement which resulted in the injury. Whatever happened to the old fashioned idea of being responsible for your own actions? It is this grow- ing sense of carelessness, especially fostered in our young people, that is becoming so frightening. It doesn't matter what I do, if I get hurt- my mommy will sue. That is what is beginning to keep the property owner awake at night, wondering if someone will ignore his No Trespassing signs and injure themselves in his backwoods- they could sue him for all his land. The homeowner wonders if those high fenced walls and locked gate will keep a determined child out of his pool. School boards have to insure all school property to cover injury to trespassers as well as students, so a vandal who injures himself while wrecking the school can be compensated. One of the groups most vulnerable to this kind of madness is the volunteer organizations. These groups are usually small, non-profit service clubs run by public -minded citizens to address the rieeds of socie- ty, the youth, the poor, the old, the handicapped and the needy. Their ADAMS names are familiar to us: the Lions, Optimists, Scouts, Guides, Minor League Hockey, PTA's, Rotarians, Legion, Shriners, Alhambrans and various church groups. All of these people volunteer their time, love and talents to making their communities better places In which to live and work. Horror stories are beginning to ap- pear with alarming regularity of some service club being sued out of existence due to an unforeseeable ac- cident incurred on an outing or dur- ing some event sponsored by that club. Now when some annual event rolls around, club executives don't consider the food or the manpower, instead they cast fearful glances around the table about the safety and the liability of the event being planned. How can they limit their liability? What if something unforeseen should occur; what price are they expected to pay to their community for the privileges of providing services not otherwise available to the public? Lawyers cynically advise dubs to "Incorporate" and that's more money for the lawyers of course, but is often too expensive for small groups. The day will come when there will be no more social gatherings, no more hay rides, no hikes, no softball, no soc- cer, no hockey, no camping, no swim parties, because there just might be an accident which no one can afford What a sad, paranoid, reactionary society we will have become, living in fear of the lawsuit that takes everything. We'll cower in the isolated fortresses of our homes, much like the early pioneers besieg- ed in their cabins by hostile Indians. Our sense of community and of shar- ing will have been submerged in the need to protect ourselves from social involvement at any cost. Action must be taken to prevent the further spread of this insidious paranoia, to limit liability, to cap award settlements and to bring in- surance rates down within reason. We, the people, must demand these measures to protect and foster our sense of caring community, not to kill it stillborn. Roberta Walker Dear Editor: I have attached a news clipping from your paper which deals with a recent family court case. The question I would like to raise is, what constructive purpose does it serve to report, several times, about an upcoming court hearing. Then, you give us all the details of the tragic family affair as it was revealed in the court room. I am convinced that no intentional harm was meant, However, articles like these affect many lives in an ex- tremely hurtful way. We live in a time where the media makes us believe that everything is news and public business. I believe that in our fine rural com- munity, most people disagree with that wrong notion. Instead, we hurt when our neighbors or friends hurt. We respect each other's private af- fairs and do nol.. expect to read news items which seem gossipy and cause additional hurt to people. We have a fine community and a good local paper, but, Mr. Editor, can we please ask you to be more sensitve in your reporting? Yours truly Herb J. Verbeek RR 3 Exeter, Ont. Best Interest * Guaranteed 1 O'/2 % Investment Certificates * su ect to change Gabor-Keeale ligInsurance Brokers Inc. Exeter Grand Bend 235-2420 238.8484 Clinton HansaII Goderich � 7 262-2119 524-2118 1 WIN MACLEAN TROPHY — A rink skipped by Gail Skinner won the recent ladies curling bonspiel spon- sored by Jerry Maclean and Son. Above, Don Keeping of Maclean's presents the trophy to Gail Skin- ner, Heather Beattie, Didi Von Dyken and Sharon McNeilly. T -A photo Usborne Update 5 4 3 2 1 Action! January 16 Usborne Central's Enrichment group filmed three com- mercials. They were each about 45 -, 60 seconds long. Peter McAllister was the director. I was the Floor director. Michael Strang and Barbara Tieman were camera men. Darryl Hern was the switcher. Susan Selves was the sound and maintenance technician. Jo -Anne Kerslake and Carrie Simp- son were gophers. Mr. Bieman came and introduced us to the proper use of the equipment. During the commercials, we got to wear earphones so that we could talk to each other. The sound person and the switcher didn't get to wear them and neither Laid the gophers. We film- ed them in the Kindergarten room. It may not have been Hollywood, but we had a fun day! Cut! Scott Finlayson, Grade 5 Not exact! ' Ice Capades Three times in the last two months Usborne Central School has gone skating at the South Huron Rec Cen- tre. We go from 1:454o 3;14. It has been lots of fun and we still have some more skating periods left this winter. This is also part of our Physical Education program. Peter McAllister, Grade 7 Eight's prepare for nine! During the month of January Usborne's Grade eight class was pick- ing out their courses for high school. We had Mrs. Gladding and Mr. Graham in from South Huron to talk to us. Mr. Gladding showed us two sets of slides, which were really in- teresting. Mr. Graham told us a few , things about selecting the proper courses for our ability level. We also went with our parents to the high school on the 22nd. There were soft drinks and coffee for us to drink while the guidance counsellors were explaining the courses to us. Everything we have learned has helped us make our final decisions. Susan Selves, Grade 8 Yum-yum This year the grade eights are cook- ing and selling hot dogs for 60e to earn money for their class trip. Hot dog days are usually the last or second last week of every month. Kindergarten, grades one, two, three and four have hot dogs on Thursday and grades five, six, seven and eight have hot dogs on Friday. Chomp! Joanne Kerslake, Grade 4 New programme! V.I.P. is a new program in our school being directed by Mr. Taylor and Constable Marshall. I.P. means Values, Influences, Peers. We started on January 14 and it will go to March 6, 1986. Some topics we talk about are Values to Standards, Put- downs and Stealing. It is every Tues- day and Thursday at 1:05 p.m. and lasts 40 minutes. Only grade six is participating in the programme. Darryl Hern, Grade 6 Dodgeball In January the grade three, four and five's signed up for Swedish Dodgeball. A lot of students signed un. mere are only three teams - The Dodgers, Rams and the Giants. All the teams have played four games. The Dodgers are in first place with three wins, and a loss. The Giants are second with two wins and two losses, and the Rains are Third with a win and three losses. Dodgeball is not over yet but everybody is eagerly waiting to see who will come in first. I'm cheering for the Dodgers. Go Dodgers! -Michael Strang, Grade 5 Wash your space ship with Tide Friday January 31, Usborne's Grade 6's had an assembly. First they did a skit about a ride up to Mars, then they did a Tide commercial and a few others. At the end they had a lit- tle story about Stone Soup. All the skits were very funny because they were interesting. Most people enjoyed it and everyone can hardly wait until another assembly comes up. Carrie Simpson, Grade 4 Winter Carnival January 24 our school was planning to have a Winter Carnival but due to the lack of snow it was postponed to Febrary 7. More details in next edi- tion of this column. She shoots! She scores! Our shool is having houseleague floorhockey. There are both girls' and boys' teams. There are only two girls' teams and four boys' teams. We all enjoy playing floorhockey for its spills and thrills. " Barbara Tiernan, Grade 7 MARTEN'S Hosting 8, Cooling • Heating Systems of all types INSTALLED, MODERNIZED and MAINTAINED • General Sheet Metal Work • Air Conditioning • Humidifiers • Ventilation 235-2187 133 Huron St. E., Exeter KIME, DITCHFIELD, MILLS & DUNLOP Chartered Accountants Announcement 1 Joseph F. Darling C.G.A. The Parnters of Kime, Dit- chfield, Mills and Dunlop, Chartered Accountants, are pleased to announce that Joseph F. Darling C.G.A. and his staff have joined oue firm in Exeter, effective January 15, 1986. Joe graduated from Fanshawe College in 1974 with an accounting diploma and was employed by our firm in London at that time. He continued his accounting education and received his designotion as a Certified General Accountant (C.G.A.) in September 1977. Joe returned to Exeter in 1978 to establish his own accounting practice and now brings to our firm a strong personal understanding of the ser- vices required by the local commercial and agricultural community. Kime, Ditchfield, Mills & Dunlop is a full-service prac- tice providing auditing, ac- counting, taxation, estate planning, agri-business, municipal auditing and ac- counting and management consulting services. • Furniture • Waterbeds • Carpet ng LES INDUSTRIES t, GERVAIS INC. MEWILES Complete Solid Wood Kitchen • Table & Leaf • Four Chairs s366 rang Flooring FAME • Hardwearing • Limited stock Sectional • Choice of colour • Durable fabric • 10 -year frame warranty � AWSER Entertainment Centre • Glass Doors • Adjustable Shelves • Holds 20" TV, video recorder & complete stereo $466 sq. yd. $39666 96666 Carpet Your choice of beige or blue textured loop rubber back- ed carpet. • Durable 100% nylon • Scotchguarded (Limited quantity) Half price $'66 >rq. yd. HALCYON Complete Waterbed Package • F-618 Baffled motionless mattress • Heater and thermostat • Finished bookcase with frame and pedestal • Velvet padded rails s36666 4�MARTENS t - M 63 MAIN ST. 235-1964 EXETER