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People Are Idiots
Yes, this is legitimate. I just made up the title.
- Source: Mail Online
- Published: 3/31/2013
The Police Federation are encouraging officers to make the claims

Much of the £42million paid out over the past two years is taxpayer-funded

WPC Kelly Jones is suing burglary victim Steve Jones

She is seeking five-figure sum for tripping over kerb at his garage

Keith Vaz has demanded urgent Home Office guidelines on the issue

Police officers are pocketing more than £20million a year in personal injury claims.

They are instructing ‘ambulance-chasing’ lawyers to sue over mishaps on duty such as slips, trips and animal attacks.

Officers are being encouraged to make the claims by a hotline run by the Police Federation. Much of the £42million paid out over the past two years is taxpayer-funded.

In a case that has caused uproar, a policewoman is suing the man who dialled 999 to report a burglary because she tripped over a kerbstone at his property.

Kelly Jones, 33, is seeking a five-figure sum for injuries to her leg and wrist last August. She was well enough however to carry on the search for the suspected intruder.

Steve Jones, the garage owner who made the 999 call, said: ‘How can anyone feel safe calling the cops if they size you up for compensation while they’re fighting crime?

‘Surely policing has elements of both public service and risk. Isn’t that what officers sign up for when they put on the uniform – chasing villains and keeping us safe?’

Recalling the incident, the 50-year-old businessman said: ‘I thought nothing of it – other than she must have been a bit embarrassed – and I helped her up. Then we carried on with the search.’

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, demanded urgent Home Office guidelines on the issue.

‘This civil claim will have huge implications for every citizen if they call police out to their premises to help them in an emergency,’ said the Labour MP.

‘It is in the public interest to know where exactly people stand in circumstances like this. If there are going to be cases like this, then people will feel reluctant to call the police in case they are sued.

‘I do not think in such circumstances the public would feel they had a responsibility for health and safety issues, in the middle of the night while apparently facing danger.

‘It’s a bizarre case and we need some urgent guidelines from the Home Office.’

WPC Jones has hired a London firm to sue Mr Jones, claiming he failed to keep her safe as she investigated the suspected break-in at the Nuns’ Bridges service station in Thetford, Norfolk.
She was in hiding at her parents’ home in Thetford yesterday.

The mother-of-two, who is divorced from a police officer, declined to comment and suggested that reporters dial 101, the police non-emergency number.

She took the legal action without informing her employers at Norfolk Constabulary and is now on sick leave over an unrelated medical condition which requires an operation.

Her claim makes 11 allegations against Mr Jones including that he failed to turn the lights on or warn her of the kerb.

The officer said she injured her left leg and her right wrist in the fall, although she was well enough to continue the search at the time.

Mr Jones is accused of failing to ensure the officer was ‘reasonably safe’ and of failing to ‘carry out an adequate risk assessment’.

The legal letter, from Pattinson Brewer solicitors, concluded that the 999 call-out exposed the officer to an ‘unnecessary risk of injury’.

But the garage owner said: ‘If an officer can now sue you because they’ve tripped over on your property what does that mean for the average homeowner?

‘If you hear a burglar downstairs, do you have to nail down your stair carpet, close the windows and put the lights on before you dial 999?

‘This is the health and safety culture at work, the fallacy that someone is to blame for any and every accident and that compensation is free.’

The Police Federation, which represents 131,000 frontline officers, said the safety of its members came second to public service.

However it actively promotes the claims hotline on its website, which links its members to personal injury lawyers.

The service is open to officers and their families to claim for injuries on or off duty at no cost to themselves.

Applicants can choose from a ‘menu’ of claims including accidents at work, animal attacks, professional negligence, public liability and slipping and tripping.

These are passed to a specialist personal injury lawyer who fights their case at no cost to the officer whatsoever.

Many potential claims appear to be aimed at officers suing their employer over issues such as defective equipment or training accidents.

The firm behind the scheme says it aims to ‘maximise compensation’ for officers.

Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said the Thetford case was unacceptable, adding: ‘I think most people would regard it as quite bizarre that an officer acting in the course of their duties would pursue a claim against a member of the public who has legitimately called them out.

‘It is preposterous to imagine that it is appropriate; it is the police doing the job they are employed to do.’

Paul Ridgway, of Norfolk Police Federation, said WPC Jones’s claim was forwarded to lawyers, regardless of the organisation’s views.

He said: ‘All members of the public, regardless of what profession, can claim litigation against people and against private firms - that’s why everyone has insurance.

‘It’s not common, I appreciate that, but the claim has come in and we’ve honoured the officer’s wishes by putting it through to the solicitor.’

The national Police Federation said the vast majority of claims made through its helpline would be for road accidents and are not necessarily linked to police work.

A spokesman said: ‘Police officers undertake their duties with public protection as their top priority, with the potential risk to themselves as a secondary consideration, if at all.

‘However, on occasion private prosecutions and civil claims are made by police officers - and they must be treated each on their own merits.

‘We share the public view that policing is a job that carries with it a reasonable amount of risk, at times much higher than that.’
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Thread by: Amaury, Apr 2, 2013, 12 replies, in forum: Current Events
Thread
Misty, Why!?

It's still April Fool's Day. :c

Thread by: Amaury, Apr 1, 2013, 15 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Let's Have a Discussion about What? II

Guys, What? is saying he's not awesome! Help me convince him that he is!

Thread by: Amaury, Apr 1, 2013, 8 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Real Funny, TeenNick...

Never before seen episode of Rocko's Modern Life is on now...

It's just a mayonnaise container sitting there, and I'm guessing it's going to be like this until 9:30 PM. Or 12:30 AM since TeenNick is Eastern.

Thread by: Amaury, Apr 1, 2013, 20 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Need Help

There was a background song that was playing while we were grocery shopping this morning, and it was very familiar because I've heard it before, but I can't remember its name or artist.

It's techno-y and "it's what you want" was one of the repeated lyrics. That's pretty much all I know.

EDIT - 6:38 PM PDT: It's sung by a male.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 30, 2013, 13 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Okay

Someone get me a rock so I can smack these people with it. They're idiots!

http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/197341-final-fantasy-vii/reviews/review-123447 (3/10)
http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/197341-final-fantasy-vii/reviews/review-85588 (4/10)

I'll be a nice guy, though, and let the 5/10s go.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 30, 2013, 19 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Misty, Plums!

Why you up at 2:25 AM? =P

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 30, 2013, 41 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Graphics

Why aren't they that nice on my copy of the game? :x

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 28, 2013, 4 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Common Activities
I've made a thread about this before, but this time it's both a thread for telling what your common activities are on here and a question from me.

Are you mainly viewing the forum list, the latest content, member profiles, managing account details, engaged in conversation, etc.?

I'm usually either viewing the forum list or viewing the latest content.

Now, here's my question: why are these mostly the activities I always see?
- Viewing forum list
- Viewing latest content
Viewing Index [Forum Name] Forum and Searching Forums, respectively, on vBulletin.
Thread by: Amaury, Mar 28, 2013, 4 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 12:00 PM I have the writing and reading sections of the GED test. The writing part is multiple choice and consists of 50 questions that include things like, "What correction is needed here? a) add a comma between such and such, b) insert [word] after [word], etc.)" and "Which revision would improve the effectiveness of this? a) move sentence 1 to follow sentence 8, b) remove sentence 11, etc." and a five-paragraph essay consisting of one introduction, three bodies, and one conclusion. The reading part is multiple choice and consists of 40 questions. Both of these are on computer.

I have no doubts about the writing, but I didn't get great scores on my last two practice reading tests (20 questions since the actual tests on each subject are twice as long) at the GED place before our spring break started on March 18. I was given a top 50 reading skills book to practice with. I'm going to go over the top 50 skills and exercises tonight, but I finished the pre-test last night and only got 31/50, which is a 62.0% D-.

I'll be at the testing center for 235 minutes.

I needz the luck of the Irish.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 27, 2013, 17 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
The Search for the Missing Odamadillo

Last seen: Friday at 8:19 AM.

We must find him, for he is awesome.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 27, 2013, 12 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Let's Have a Discussion about EvilMan

Evil Man's turn! Go, go, go!

He is awesome.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 23, 2013, 6 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Funny

Charged with seven counts of misdemeanor, destruction of property, and disorderly conduct.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 23, 2013, 5 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Lunar Eclipse 4/25/2013

There's going to be one on April 25.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 23, 2013, 21 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Exhausted

Just took my dog for a walk / run for about 13 minutes. Walked, then ran, walked, then ran.

Now my legs will be sore tomorrow, because whenever I run long distances, which isn't often, they get sore for some reason the next day.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 23, 2013, 7 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
The Search for the Missing Neku Sakuraba

It's time we sent out a search party. It's almost three months with no sign of him (last seen January 1).

Call the FBI. Call the SWAT squad. Call the police. We need to find him.

http://kh-vids.net/members/neku_sakuraba.58862/

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 21, 2013, 9 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Prank Calls

One of my friends called 19 minutes ago, and I wasn't sure who it was since it said Private Number, so I had my mom answer it. He asked for Amaury (a-mer-ee) and my mom responded with "Amaury?" (A-mau-ree -- that's how it's actually pronounced), to which he responded, "No, Amaury" (a-mer-ee).

My mom handed me the phone.

I didn't understand the first time, so I had to ask him to repeat himself.

"Huh?"
"This is the sex company. You've been having too much online sex."

Oh, how I love immaturity. Not only that, but since my phone's a pre-pay, he wasted time.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 20, 2013, 4 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
The Thread

This is a thread about something.

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 19, 2013, 4 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
No Staff Online XXVI

Party, party, party! Party, party, party!

Thread by: Amaury, Mar 19, 2013, 5 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
Thread
Las Cruces Woman Accused of Beating Son with Horse Whip Enters Late Plea Agreement
Keyblade Knight has asked me to post this. He didn't want to, and I won't unveil the reasons. If you want to know, ask him.
- Source: El Paso Times
- Published: 3/11/2013, 12:32 PM MDT
LAS CRUCES — In a plea deal reached midway through the first day of trial Monday, a Las Cruces woman pleaded no contest to a charge that she beat her then-13-year-old son with a horse whip and other implements in 2010.

Sherri Mazzola, 41, was facing four charges, including three counts of child abuse and one count of bribery for allegedly threatening the boy if he testified against her. Together those charges carried a maximum of 12 years in prison.

But that possibility never went to the jury, which had been selected Monday morning. Prosecutors and Mazzola's defense attorney hammered out a plea agreement before the jury returned from lunch.

Mazzola, who according to court records is a military retiree, pleaded no contest to one child abuse charge. In exchange for that plea - one that is treated similar to a guilty plea for the purposes of sentencing - prosecutors dropped the remaining charges.

Longtime prosecutor Daniel Sewell said the district attorney's office offered a plea deal months ago. As recently as "a couple weeks ago," Sewell said, he extended the plea deal again.

Mazzola's attorney, Bernadette Sedillo, declined to explain why her client accepted the plea bargain in the opening hours of the two-day trial.

Sewell added that in his experience, from an outsider's perspective, some people have a change of heart when they see the jury.

An unspecified heath issue for Mazzola came up during court, but Sedillo
declined to elaborate on it or the possible effect that may have had on Monday's decision to take the plea deal.

The jury selection took most of the morning. Sewell said that Sedillo asked about the plea deal during a morning break. By lunch, Sewell said, the parties had an agreement.

Sewell said that Mazzola's son and his caretaker were on board with the plea agreement. They live outside of the state, Sewell said.

None of Mazzola's other children live with her, Sewell said.

Driggers declined to sentence Mazzola on Monday, ordering a pre-sentencing report. That process means it could be weeks before Mazzola is sentenced. She has been out on bond since her arrest in 2010.

As a condition of her release, Mazzola is not allowed contact with any children under age 18. Driggers granted her permission to see her grandchildren, but only if the parents of those children are in the same room.

According to Sun-News archives, court documents state that Mazzola left welts on her son's buttocks, back and legs because he was unable to clean a bathroom in five minutes. Besides the nylon horse whip, investigators allege Mazzola used a metal broom handle and the plastic cap of a spray can.

She was arrested in June 2010. In December 2011, a grand jury indicted Mazzola for threatening the child not to testify against her.

James Staley may be reached at 575-541-5476. Follow him on Twitter @auguststaley

12:32 p.m. update

LAS CRUCES — A trial started Monday for the Las Cruces woman accused of beating her then-13-year-old son with a horse whip and other implements in 2010, then threatening him if he testified against her.

According to Sun-News archives, court documents state that Sherri Mazzola, 41, left welts on her son's buttocks, back and legs because he was unable to clean a bathroom in five minutes. Besides the nylon horse whip, investigators allege Mazzola used a metal broom handle and the plastic cap of a spray can.

She was arrested in June 2010. Then in December 2011, a grand jury indicted Mazzola for threatening the child not to testify against her.

Third Judicial District Court Chief Judge Douglas R. Driggers said Monday that officials selected a jury that morning. The trial is slated for two days.

Mazzola's son was released to foster parents, according to Sun-News archives.
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Thread by: Amaury, Mar 18, 2013, 1 replies, in forum: Current Events

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