I realise that one reason the owners try to stop people going in is so they are not liable if the silly buggers injure themselves.

Maybe in England, a land of more common sense (sometimes.) However in these United States there is a notorious case of a burglar who fell through a skylight while committing his crime ... and won compensation for his injuries into perpetuity.

https://rogerdavidheiser.com/burglar-fell-roof-frivolous-personal-injury-lawsuits

Does it matter that the skylight was painted over? I would say no. He had no business on the roof while committing a crime. However, the law apparently felt ... differently.

In the Stella Liebeck case (mentioned in the same article) I have some "differing opinions" as well, tempered by the fact that this case happened where I live. So as the litigation dragged on, I was able to learn more facts than are usually presented in the quick-and-dirty synopsis of "a lady spilled a little hot coffee in her lap and was awarded millions of dollars."

Do I consider that award excessive? ($2.7 million) On the face of it, yes.

Mrs. Liebeck was 79 years old. (And possibly less coordinated in her hand movements than someone younger. That point is not in dispute.)

She was holding the styrofoam coffee cup between her knees as she attempted to get the lid off and add cream and sugar. (Not the wisest of all moves, IYAM.)

She was wearing sweatpants at the time. When she spilled the coffee -- the cup tipped and essentially poured its contents into her lap, the thick cotton fabric held the just below-the-boiling point coffee (180-190°) against her thighs and genital area for some considerable time (as you can imagine.) She suffered extensive burns to these parts of her body -- and required skin grafts to repair the damage. Her doctors testified to the extensive nature of her burns.

Was her own stupidity in large part responsible for the severity of her injuries? You bet your bippy -- or whatever other body part you care to wager -- IMO.

She originally asked McDonalds to cover her $25,000 medical / hospital bills -- and was essentially told to go screw herself. (Ironic, considering the site of her injuries.)

The condescending attitude of the McDonalds executives / lawyers in the case offended the jury hearing the case to the point that they awarded the punitive damages. That -- and the fact that McDonalds had been repeatedly warned in other instances about the excessive temperatures at which some of their restaurants served coffee.

The corporate Powers-That-Be did not address these warnings. Then Stella Liebeck happened -- and gained her a dubious place in personal injury history.

The fact is, however, McDonalds could have resolved this case for $25,000 and a little compassion at the start. (Literally pocket money to this corporation.) They made a different decision however. And it cost them. Or, rather their attitude did.

Do I think Mrs. Liebeck was more responsible for her injuries than not? Yes, I do. Do I believe her award amount was excessive? Again, yes.

As for the burglar who turned himself into a brain-damaged quadriplegic when he fell through the painted skylight of the building he was attempting to burgle, I'm even less sympathetic.

Maybe I should go to work for McDonalds. But these cases happened -- and they have now entered into legal legend.

That said, I hope @slobberchops and @goblinknackers continue to take all due precautions. These posts are fun. I enjoy them a lot. But the human beings behind them are far more important.

(Your comment obviously touched a nerve this morning. Now ... I'm going to go do something constructive.)