[The Toad]

I live near Chicago and thankfully we don't have oppressive sidewalk clearing laws. In fact, I refuse to clear mine due to the lawsuits that can be slappin on you if you clear your side and someone falls. Not clearing it becomes an "act of God".

When I walk my dog I have to sometimes walk on uncleared sidewalks but shrug it off. It's unfortunate but I'm not about to be sued.

[jim_trent]

> I live near Chicago and thankfully we don't have oppressive sidewalk clearing laws.
> In fact, I refuse to clear mine due to the lawsuits that can be slappin on you if you clear
> your side and someone falls. Not clearing it becomes an "act of God".

You obviously have not had any experience with lawyers. If someone falls on the sidewalk in front of your house, YOU will be sued, along with the City of Chicago. If you are lucky, your insurance company will make a deal to settle for the amount of coverage. Then the lawyers will use that money to sue the City. If you aren't lucky, they will take the coverage to let the insurance company off the hook and still sue you in addition to Chicago.

Whoever told you that "act of God" thing has never been in court.

[meyer]

I live near Chicago and thankfully we don't have oppressive sidewalk clearing laws. In fact, I refuse to clear mine due to the lawsuits that can be slappin on you if you clear your side and someone falls. Not clearing it becomes an "act of God".

That was true in Ohio as well; make an effort to clear the walk and you'd better do it right. Otherwise, you've created a more serious hazard since you've presumably drawn the poor pedestrian into a false sense of security on your shoveled, but icy sidewalk. Leave the snow and they can see straight up what the hazards are.