How to negotiate from a position of strength.
The scenario:
The client was a freehold farm owner. National Grid, together with a well-known phone company, wanted to put an underground (1.5m deep) telecom cable across the farm.
What happened?
While the negotiations were ongoing regarding a compensation agreement, the cable was laid on the surface.
Unfortunately, due to disagreements about the level of compensation, negotiations broke down and the cable remained on the surface for twelve months, without the permission of the client.
The client regarded this as “trespass and nuisance” – he had lost hedgerow stewardship because the cable stopped him from managing the hedges on his land. The cable also prevented access to fields, costing him money.
Under the terms of his policy, the client contacted rradar, who conducted negotiations with National Grid’s lawyers for compensation and a confirmed date on which work could be carried out to bury the cable.
The outcome
Thanks to rradar’s intervention and expert negotiation, a settlement of £14,000 was made in the client’s favour. He could then return to running his farm with no further inconvenience. Total cost for legal fees in the handling of this claim were just over £9,500 including counsel.
Rural Protect includes a cover feature known as pursuit, which sits under the Company Liability section. Trespass, nuisance, person removal and property damage are all covered as standard as part of the insurance. In addition to the primary defense function of the policy it also enables a business to pursue legal action in specific areas.
Something to think about
Rural businesses need to operate unencumbered by distractions and inconveniences. When an external organisation causes such a problem, it’s important that the business owner has the ability to negotiate from a position of strength.
Experienced negotiation skills and expert legal knowledge give you the strength you need to protect your business.
