Arlette Schijns conducts research on crime injury compensation and has argued in previous publications that the compensation system should be modified, including by allowing insurance law to play a greater role in compensating crime injuries. Her doctoral research is made possible by Fund Victim Support. See article NOS: Financial distress after serious crime, Victim Support wants action.
Climbing hall and directors convicted of fatal fall of 11-year-old boy
Today the Amsterdam District Court (Criminal Chamber) handed down its verdict in the "Climbing Wall" case. In this sad case, a boy fell 14 meters down during a children's party because it turned out he was not properly secured. This became fatal to him. Arlette Schijns, Irene Timmermans and Nicole Hoogenboom assisted the relatives in the criminal case in which the legal entity and two directors were prosecuted for culpable homicide. The Amsterdam court reached a conviction of all three defendants as supervision was inadequate and essential precautions were lacking. Leaving securing while climbing to an inexperienced parent, while the supervisors were busy baking pancakes, among other things, was irresponsible. A painful conclusion, now that the death could have been prevented. For parents, the claims for compensation of affection damage as well as shock damage were granted, both with respect to the damages and (part of) the costs incurred and lost income. The judgment is satisfactory, but is only a very small plaster for an immense wound. For more information about the ruling For the NOS report