Businesses, take heed: If employees are hurt while working in the field, you could be liable.

The Westray Mine law

In 2003, Canada's Parliament passed legislation holding business executives criminally liable for negligence leading to injury or death.

Story continues below advertisement

The law was inspired by a 1992 disaster that saw 26 miners perish in an explosion.

Not-so-good Samaritans?

A U.S. aid worker who was kidnapped and held for more than three months in Darfur is suing her organization for exposing her to danger. Flavia Wagner claims that Samaritan's Purse failed to provide adequate security and training.

Night moves

Story continues below advertisement

An Australian bureaucrat is suing her government after she was hit by a falling light fixture during vigorous sex in a motel room.

Because the injuries occurred while on a business trip, she claims they were sustained "during the course of her employment."

This article originally appeared in the October issue of Report on Small Business magazine to accompany an article on ex-soldiers turned consultants.