Public authority liability and the chilling effect.

The article discusses the chilling effects that might be associated with the imposition of liability on public authorities (PAs) in places such as Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S., focusing on issues related to the adoption of defensive practices by PAs, as well as tort laws and legal exceptions for the discretionary activities of PAs. According to the article, a "chilling effect" occurs when PAs make unnecessarily delayed and overly cautious decisions. Due care legal standards are examined.