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Reports that doctors, ministers, educators and other professionals in the United States are increasingly afraid of being sued on the job. Example of an emergency room doctor whose patients frequently threaten to sue; Example of a volunteer who runs a softball tournament in Page, Arizona, to raise money for local school sports programs who was forced to cancel this year's event after a man who broke his leg during a recent tournament filed a lawsuit against the city; History of the rise of litigation in the United States, which started as a means for the dispossessed to assert their rights; Argument that many lawsuits today are opportunistic and without merit; Speculation that the cost of lawsuits is $200 billion a year; Details of a campaign by legal reformer Philip K. Howard to stem the rise of litigation; Claims that physicians waste money on unnecessary tests to avoid being accused of failing to diagnose a condition; Examples of lawsuits in schools; Details of attempts at tort reform.

The article discusses school field trips and their role in education. Many schools have been forced to cut back on or eliminate field trips altogether due to budget shortfalls. Changes in field trip policy include encouraging virtual field trips, cutting field trips as a reward, and increased scrutiny for curriculum-based outings. Schools' legal liability for incidents during field trips is also discussed, and schools are encouraged to clear trips with their insurance providers beforehand. The benefits of field trips for students are described, including job networking experience, exposure to unfamiliar environments, and reinforcement of classroom lessons. Several educators express the opinion that field trips are an essential rather than a supplemental part of education.

The article discusses ways on how schools and universities can manage transportation liability. According to the author, the institution's responsibility to examine the qualifications of those who will be driving on its behalf. He adds that it is important for any vehicles owned by institutions to be kept in good working condition. He mentions that institutions should create a management approach that sets standards, documents compliance and communicates clearly with all of those involved. INSET: Federal warning on 15-passenger vans.

The article focuses on the personal liability of college administration over students' injury or death. It notes that the number of individuals filing civil complaints against college administrators in the U.S. have increased over the years. It explores the sources of personal liability of college administrations, including the negligence claims, defamation claims, and even sexual harassments or other forms of discrimination. It also discusses the possible defenses to personal liability claims.

The author offers his opinion regarding Great Britain's Supreme Court's decision to hold education authorities and schools accountable for student injuries. He discusses the injuries sustained by Annie Woodland, a student at Whitmore Junior School in Essex, London, during a swimming lesson, details related to the court case against Essex that followed, and judge Lord Sumption's six key points concerning school liability.

The article discusses the perception that parents are suing school officials when their children get injured on school property. The author claims that most people believe that negligence cases for student injury are rising, with the odds of judicial outcomes that are favorable for schools lowering. The sources of this perception are attributed to reports by the media concerning sensational lawsuits and verdicts, premium increases by the insurance industry for liability insurance, and benefits by teacher unions.

The article presents the author's views regarding the impact of schools on the normal routine of students in the U.S., as well as some situation which may affect the lives of the students. The author implies that the tragedy at Success Tech in Cleveland, Ohio has resulted in the closure the next day of the entire Cleveland school system of 50,000 students.

The article discusses several injury cases which illustrate how U.S. school districts should take reasonable steps to prevent dangers that may cause tragic events within school grounds or at a school-related function for which courts may hold them financially liable. These cases are referred to as torts or civil lawsuits in which the harmed person seeks to assign legal blame to the school district and thus receive money to cover out-of-pocket expenses or to inflict punishment. Included among the cases discussed are Ronan v. School District City of New Rochelle, Demont v. Harrison School District and Sobti v. Lindenhurst.

Explains why educators do not comment on embarrassing or negative school incidents. Importance of educators' relationship with local media; Disclosure of information; Ways to handle the media.

Gives advice on how dance teachers can prevent lawsuits arising from teaching in the studio. Requiring parents to sign an acknowledgment that the child may be touched by the teacher in an impersonal manner during the class; Use of `assumption of risk' in dance accidents; Asking legal help from the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA).

The article discusses the lawsuit filed against York University in Toronto, Ontario by students injured in a campus shooting on March 6, 2014, citing failure by the university to provide adequate security prior to the incident.

The author considers the potential implications of Great Britain's Corporate Manslaughter Act for schools. It is reported that the law will institute fines in cases where institutional mismanagement or reckless endangerment leads to death. The author argues that such fines will prevent schools from providing for the needs of their remaining students in the event of institutional tragedies. The passing of the law is connected to a cultural tendency to blame institutions for individual bad acts.

The article presents information on the conviction of Hillgrove School headteacher and owner James Porter in the death of three-year-old student Kian Williams after a playground accident. Risk management professor David Ball believes that safety inspectors took an unduly hard line in this prosecution, arguing that no matter how many playground supervisors had been on hand that day it would have been difficult to stop a small boy from jumping off of steps while playing.

Reports that a court reviewed a lawsuit filed by a female employee of a private food service contractor against a college and the religious order that ran the school to seek compensation for her injuries caused by a stair accident while on the job on campus. Court's review of her request for damages in "Garcia v. Jesuits of Fordham Inc."; Arguments of the school and religious order calling for the dismissal of the case; Responsibility of the company itself for the area where the employee fell; Court's ruling that the plaintiff's inspection of the area to find causes for the fall were too late to prove anything.

Reports on a court ruling in "Witherspoon v. Columbia University" that a student was not negligent for selecting her travel path and the New York university has a responsibility to clear paths available for student passage. Claim of a student who slipped and fell on a school sidewalk that the university failed to maintain its premises properly; University's argument that the student chose the more-dangerous path, making her liable for the injuries.

Reports on the sentence imposed by a judge on Paul Ellis, the teacher who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 10-year-old Max Palmer who drowned while on a school trip to the Lake District in England in 2003. Details of the school trip tragedy; Statement issued by the judge on the case.

Reports on a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that a liability waiver for school activities protected the city of Newton from being held accountable in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a high school cheerleader who fell off the top of a cheerleading pyramid and broke her arm. Background of the case; Line of reasoning that the plaintiffs used in their attempt to pin liability on the city and its school system.

Reports on the prohibition of playground and other games by schools in England. Comment of school inspectors on playtime procedures; Incident reports of school tragedies; Effect of play restrictions on childhood spontaneity; Absence of national health and safety procedures from the Health and Safety Act. INSET: WHAT THE HEADS THINK..

Reports that criminal charges may be filed against teachers accompanying Hannah Black and Rochelle Cauvet, students of Royds high school in Leeds, England, who died in a river-walking accident during a field trip. Questions about the safety of group trips outside school premises; impact of such threat of prosecution on the decision of school staff to organize field trips in the future.

Focuses on an accident in a physical education class at St. Mary's School in Westlock, Alberta that left Margaret McCabe paralyzed in 1991. The court awarding McCabe a judgment of $4 million, that left schools across the province rethinking their risk policies; School liability for in-class accidents; The four principles to guide teachers, including coached progressions and adequate supervision; How the ruling of Justice Cecilia Johnstone is seen as an intrinsic pattern of the welfare state. INSET: Yes, but how much should she have earned?.

Reports on a court decision requiring the New York City school system to pay damages to student Jose Barretto who suffered injuries at the Richmond Hill High School gymnasium. Total amount of damages; Argument given by Barretto's lawyer.

The article focuses on the data released by the Welsh councils which revealed that schools in Wales have paid more than £800,000 in damages for accidents that involved children from 2008/2009 to 2012/2013.

The article reports on the removal of bolts from a tower crane which believed to be the cause of a fatal crash at the University of Texas in Dallas on July 7, 2012. An expert familiar with the incident mentions the removal of the jib at the time of the collapse. According to Terry McGettigan of Tower Crane Support, images released in the "Dallas Morning News" reveal that at least six of the eight bolts on one connection stocked in adjacent bolt racks, suggesting that they were removed.