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warlocc_ t1_jaek745 wrote

This could either be good, or it could be costly and open the businesses up to legal liability.

If the government makes it a law, it's almost certainly going to be the latter.

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Paul6334 t1_jaekluv wrote

You do realize that you cannot be sued over any food donation made in good faith, right?

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B-Roc- t1_jaelkdj wrote

I've worked with the homeless for 7 years in the Merrimack Valley and many, many restaurants and hotels refuse to give leftover food to the homeless because of fear of legal action. The company I work at has a large cafeteria and homeless camping just off property and the company/cafe refuses to donate leftovers because of fear of legal action. If they can't be sued then that word needs to get out.

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Paul6334 t1_jaem4sj wrote

Generally the act of donating food is protected by Good Samaritan laws, of which I believe Massachusetts has one of the most comprehensive

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mattgm1995 t1_jaeoqzc wrote

That’s just what they tell you. They don’t want the trouble of lifting a finger to help

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P_water t1_jaexg91 wrote

I am just now realizing that is the real reason.

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warlocc_ t1_jaemk4l wrote

Telling me that and downvoting me won't convince the lawyers of those companies or prevent frivolous lawsuits and legal fishing attempts.

Besides, even with that in mind, there's still other health code issues to resolve.

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Paul6334 t1_jaemrbl wrote

Here’s a brief on the issue from Harvard Law and the MA state government.

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warlocc_ t1_jaeoomq wrote

Still doesn't address what I said. We've got plenty of laws, including some pretty big federal ones, about what you can and can't sue for, but it still happens anyway. And sometimes successfully, no less.

Like I said, this could be good if they do it right, but I've been around long enough to see how government usually does things.

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Pocketpine t1_jaetthx wrote

You can be sued over anything by anyone. You would have a lower chance of losing, but not 100% impossible.

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_jaetrhc wrote

Hey, you can say “you do realize” which is condescending,

or…

You could state your point of view without that phrase, which is a lot nicer.

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