Do we care?

On TodayTonight this evening, a story was aired about a woman who claims she was attacked by a store detective.  The claim is that she was roughed about by the man who grabbed her by the wrist, and yanked her around.  Apparently she suffered $80,000 worth of damage to her wrist and thumb, and has tried to sue the company employing the man (Best & Less clothing store.)

Now, I don't condone violent behaviour, however I find it a little difficult to believe the story- having worked in the capacity of a store detective in the past, it is not very likely that one would actually assault a client of the store, due to the risk of this very thing!

The story may have been credible, however, it turns out that people have developed a "boy who cried wolf" sentiment towards this lady after the revelation that she has a history of such claims.  Okay, so most people, some time in their lives will have justifiable cause (at least one time) to bring a lawsuit against another person or business (most will never take the opportunity due to not realizing the situation has that sort of ramification), but when you have had seven such claims within twenty years, c'mon!?

Add this to the video surveillance the company's private investigator captured of the woman using her wrist as normal, her credibility takes another dive.  Her daughter should have kept her mouth closed- she stated that her mother was just one of those clumsy people that accidents happen to.  Why should businesses (and ultimately those who shop with them) have to pay for some woman's clumsiness?  Really?

Australia is heading down a slippery, slippery slope of lawsuit overdose.  It won't be long that we will have a similar situation to the USA, where people file ridiculous civil action suits over nothing (or worse, over injury due to their own stupidity.)  Oh! I do dread those days.

Jim