Last updated at 23:53 21 February 2008

Junk mail rarely brings you something you want, but for one homeowner it has led to a lawsuit landing on his doormat.

Paul O'Brien is being sued by a woman who says she trapped her hand in his letterbox while posting mail.

Joy Goodman, a cake decorator in her late 40s, is seeking damages for personal injury and loss of earnings.

She claims the top of her right index finger was severed by his letterbox and she can no longer do her intricate job.

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Mr O'Brien, 44, from Morley, Leeds, vowed to fight the claim, branding it "a joke".

The self-employed engineer said: "When I received a solicitor's letter I thought someone was having a laugh.

"I actually told them they had sent it early - April Fool's Day is still six weeks away.

"I just cannot believe someone who came on to my property uninvited, to put junk mail through my door that I didn't want, can now sue me because she hurt herself.

"I do not even know what the woman posted to me. I never read my junk mail.

"When I get junk mail I usually just scoop it all up and throw it in the bin."

The divorced father of two was out when Mrs Goodman claims she was hurt at the door of his four-bedroom detached new-build house.

She returned two days later and, finding him out, spoke to a neighbour and left contact details for him to get in touch with her.

The next he heard from her was when he received a letter from her solicitors saying she was claiming damages.

It read: "We understand that the circumstances of the accident are that our client was delivering a leaflet to your house when your letterbox snapped back on to her right index finger.

"As a result of this, our client suffered from personal injury and loss."

The letter did not state how much compensation she was pursuing, and asked only for his acknowledgement.

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Mr O'Brien said: "It said they could claim against my house insurance. But if they pay out, my premiums will go up.

"Either way it will be me who ends up footing the bill. I am going to tell them to challenge it.

"I didn't invite this person on to my property and there is nothing wrong with the letterbox - I haven't altered it or done anything to it.

"It's just like every other letterbox on this estate. It's the one that came with the house. I asked the Royal Mail if they had had any problems with it.

"They said they hadn't and that in any case their staff are trained to make sure they don't get hurt while delivering.

"It seems like we're becoming more and more like America. Everyone wants compensation."

Mr O'Brien now has a poster in his window that reads: "No salespersons, No junk mail."

Mrs Goodman declined to comment, saying only: "It is in the hands of my solicitors."

A neighbour of Mr O'Brien said: "This is absolutely crazy. I might put a sign up too. That could have happened to any one of us."