The inquest into the tragic death of a nurse in London has thrown an unusual spotlight on DJs and their responsibility to their audience.
In December 2012, two Australian DJs made a hoax call to a London hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated during her first pregnancy. The DJs, pretending to be members of the royal family, spoke to nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who put them through to the private rooms. The hoax was broadcast live on Australian radio, and a few days later after the prank had been revealed, nurse Saldanha sadly took her own life.
While it has not yet been established that she did so as a direct result of the hoax call, it does raise some serious questions as to the culpability of those in the entertainment industry to the well being and welfare of their audience. It’s unlikely that a ‘prank’ of any kind played during a live set could cause mental or emotional anguish, but it does reinforce the need for DJs to be aware that their actions can have consequences, even if the possibility of a serious outcome is remote.
Why PLI is so important for DJs
Anyone who has any form of contact with the public should have public liability insurance. And as the ‘claim culture’ bandwagon rolls on, it’s now perhaps just as important to ensure that your DJ insurance and PLI also includes clauses to protect you against claims for emotional distress as well as physical injuries.
While the need to protect yourself against the financial implications of a personal injury claim or a claim for damage to property is well known, more people are now also considering emotional or mental damage to be grounds to make a claim. While these may be more difficult to prove in a court of law, that in itself can be a strong argument to ensure that you do have the right kind of cover to protect yourself against the cost of employing a solicitor or legal expert to defend you in what could quite easily turn into a protracted case.
We’d all like to think that going to an event is an opportunity to enjoy ourselves. But accidents happen, and the ‘mental anguish’ angle of a compensation claim, while contentious, can end up costing those without the right level of Public Liability Insurance dear. Talk to an expert in DJ insurance cover to make sure your policy gives you cover for (almost!) every eventuality.