Homeowner's anger over junk mail legal action

Junk mail rarely brings you something you want, but for one homeowner it has led to a lawsuit landing on his doormat. Paul O'Brien is being sued by a woman who says she trapped her hand in his letterbox while posting mail.

Joy Goodman, a cake decorator in her late 40s, is seeking damages for personal injury and loss of earnings. She claims the top of her right index finger was severed by his letterbox and she can no longer do her intricate job.

Mr O'Brien, 44, from Morley, Leeds, vowed to fight the claim, branding it "a joke". The self-employed engineer said: "When I received a solicitor's letter I thought someone was having a laugh. I actually told them they had sent it early - April Fool's Day is still six weeks away.



"I just cannot believe someone who came on to my property uninvited, to put junk mail through my door that I didn't want, can now sue me because she hurt herself."

The letter did not state how much compensation she was pursuing, and asked only for his acknowledgement.

Mr O'Brien now has a poster in his window that reads: "No salespersons, No junk mail." A neighbour of Mr O'Brien said: "This is absolutely crazy. I might put a sign up too. That could have happened to any one of us."