Compensation culture in Kirklees? £470k claims against schools

Jan 19 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

£470,000 in payouts in three years

SHOCK figures revealed today show just how much the compensation culture has taken over in Kirklees.

The Examiner can reveal for the first time what council taxpayers are forking out following accidents at schools.

Figures obtained from Kirklees Council under the Freedom of Information Act show the LEA had to defend claims totalling nearly £185,000 from December 2005 to December 2006.

Some £245,000 was claimed in the following 12 months and almost £140,000 between December 2007 and 2008. Not all was paid out though.

The highest claim was for £60,000, which was claimed by an employee who suffered a break or fracture caused by defective equipment on March 30, 2006 at Crow Lane Junior and Infants School in Milnsbridge.

Other large claimants include:

An employee claimed £31,000 for a bruise, sprain or strain caused by defective equipment at Marsden Junior School on August 17, 2006.

An employee claimed £20,888 after an assault causing an eye injury at Newsome High School on November 1, 2006.

An employee who picked up an infection at Fartown High School on March 9, 2007  claimed £9,000.