Compo culture - Exemplary ruling but more needed

One of the shabbiest symptoms of our greed-and-grab culture is the ease with which we initiate litigation that holds out the prospect of a compensation cheque or even a percentage of that cheque.

Of course some plaintiffs, the majority really, seeking compensation have been wronged and are entirely justified in seeking redress through our courts.

Nevertheless, it is not unusual to be bewildered by some of these compo cases, especially when awards to plaintiffs more easily seen as opportunists rather than victims, seem so disproportionate or even unnecessary. That confusion is exacerbated when the presiding judge, as some have done, express doubts about the veracity of evidence offered under oath but nevertheless make substantial awards.