Lawyers volunteer help in manhole death cases

A number of Saudi lawyers have volunteered to provide legal advice to families of victims in their bid to sue those responsible for the open manholes in Jeddah which have resulted in three deaths in a span of two months.
The families of the victims are moving forward with these cases months after the formation of a special committee to investigate the deaths caused by the manholes.
Sources have revealed that the lawsuits awaiting submission to the courts include requests for punishing the government officials responsible, especially as the incidents were due to negligence.
Commenting on the lawsuits, a lawyer and legal adviser said that whoever is responsible, whether they are officials, individuals or an administrative authority should be held to account for failing to provide the necessary safety measures.
“If the defendant is an individual, the case will be brought before the Criminal Court after being reviewed by the BIP (Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution). It could also be raised to the General Court to demand compensation for damages,” he said.
“If the defendant is an administrative authority, the case will be presented to the administrative courts as a claim for compensation for damages based on Article 13 of the Office of the Ombudsman regulations,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims demanded a speedy announcement of the results of the investigation to determine those responsible for the accidents.
The Jeddah municipality also condemned government authorities and companies working in the interest of their projects and failing to address the unsafe situation of manholes throughout the city. The municipality promised to issue a statement revealing the names of companies and government entities responsible for the open manholes throughout Jeddah.
According to lawyer Mohammed Aldeeni, the legal system lacks clear standards for compensation by government agencies, and thus happens to rely extensively on personal estimates and the input of the judiciary.
He said compensation suits must take into account the type of damage, the parties involved and responsible for the damage, and the time. Based on this information, the court determines if there is a legal basis to submit the suit and how those responsible may be held accountable.