Advice needed please for a friend

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horseriderdeb

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July this year my friends pony was killed in the field by an electricity cable coming down from the pylonn and burning her alive. Luckly she was killed instantly. The electricity board insurance people are wanting her to sign a form to say that they were not negligent. they have also offered her a pathic sum incompensation. Enough to cover the cost of the pony and for anything she has has to pay out for it. Nothing to cover the trauma and distress to her, her children and husband. They put the wire back up and left skin, hair and blood on the line for her to see until they could get back to clean it off. Where her pony died is burnt into the ground for her to see everyday. One of the workmen said they new where the problem was as they could see the flames coming from the pony in the field. They never even contacted her that night. They just coverd the pony up with a tarpaulin and left her there for her to be found in the morning. Her other horses are now very spooky and she is going to have to get help with them. She feels very backed into a corner as they have said if it goes to court they will win and it will cost her a lot of money. Has anyone got any advice or knows of a good solicitor that could advise her. They are not even bothered if she goes to the media as she has tried that one with them and they just don't care
 
That's horrible - your poor friend!

It sounds like they were negligent to me... their duty is to inform the owner of any property damaged as a result of their operations, and they are supposed to do that immediately as far as I am aware.

I suggest that she speaks to citizens advice and see if they can point her in the direction of a specialist lawyer.
 
Not a solicitor, but it sounds as though they are panicking enormously and trying to completely intimidate your friend! She absolutely needs to seek legal advice ASAP and sign nothing/speak to no-one until she has done so. If possible, she should take photos of whatever she can (patch of ground, for example), although I appreciate this is traumatic for her. Depending on where she is there should be an equine-experienced legal firm around - if she has the finances, a bigger one is usually better as they tend not to back down under pressure. Hopefully someone here can recommend a firm, or you could look though Horse and Hound's articles about legal stuff and see which firms they use to advise on people's questions.

In the meantime, she needs to gather together as much evidence as she can, keep any and all correspondence from the electricity board and keep everything in writing - if she needs to speak to them, it should be via letter or similar so there's an 'audit' trail and evidence of what's discussed/said.

I hope this helps a little. How thoroughly tragic and traumatising for your friend. Don't let her be pushed into a corner or pressured over this - they wouldn't try those tactics or send forms for her to fill in if they were genuinely confident of winning a lawsuit.

ETA - If she's not done so already, her insurance provider may be able to put her in contact with a good solicitor.
 
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She feels very backed into a corner as they have said if it goes to court they will win and it will cost her a lot of money. Has anyone got any advice or knows of a good solicitor that could advise her. They are not even bothered if she goes to the media as she has tried that one with them and they just don't care

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They are clairvoyant then? If they've offered compensation then they KNOW they were negligent - otherwise they'd just say: "Not our fault - claim from your own insurers!"

Electricity cables are not meant to fall out of the sky - hell - it could have landed on a child in a pram - or a group of people enjoying a picnic!

Speak to one of the guys at Knights They are the Pit Bull terriers of the legal world - and they LOVE taking on bullies!! (And cases which people say are unwinnable!) They are also almost all horse owners/riders - so fully understand that this incident was NOT just about the financial loss of a pony!
 
Ditto Janet again, they would not offer compensation if they thought they weren't liable!!

How about the BHS, they have a legal department, and if you are a gold member they offer free advice, they might be able to point your friend in the right direction.

I hope she does take the case up, and doesn't let them bully her.
 
Janet is right they are panicking and trying to just get out of it and fast before your friend gets over the shock and seeks legal advice. Which she must do. There are plenty of solicitors out there and I'm sure the one Janet suggests will do a free or cheap first consultation and then be able to tell you if this can be takeon on on one of those no win no fee type of things. My guess is it would be
 
I had this happen to a clients horse. They paid some compensation for the horse, but that was it. I don't know how much they went after the electricity company legal wise (although I do know some effort was made), but they were disappointed in the outcome.
The whole of the section of wires running across the fields was renewed shortly after. Odd that...
Condolences to your friend.
 
there tryin gto get her to agree to a sum, she needs to refuse everything and take this to court she will not lose they are scared and trying to get her to settle!
 
Are they claiming that the wire came down as "an act of god", think thats what the insurance companies describe it as ie flooding, tornedo etc therefore they dont have to pay up.

If they are, then go the the Met Office and ask them for historical weather data for the date it happened and position of the field. May cost a wee bit (not much) but I`m sure you can get it.

"knights" who Janet suggested look like the perfect bunch to start with.

Tell your friend to sign nothing and refuse to have anymore dealings with them unless a lawyer is witness or it is written down.

Chances are they will never "admit" liability, they will be claiming that the compansation is a gesture for your friends trauma.

Dont let her be bullied!

Good luck and remember the stir we caused on here with the "stamford 2"

I`m sure that everyone on here could/would help your friend with support if need be.
 
no it wasn't an act of god. No rain, wind, thunder or lightening that night. She spoke to nights and they have told her to take the money. She is so very upset. She has sent me some photos but not sure I should post them on here as it might go against her.
 
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