Recently a US woman sports reporter Erin Andrews was awarded $US55 million ($A74 million) payout in her lawsuit against a stalker who secretly filmed her in the nude and shared the explicit video online.
But the lawsuit was not only bought against the accused stalker Michael Barrett and the operator of the Nashville Marriot Hotel, where she was filmed by the man who booked a room next to hers in 2008.
Michael Barrett had nothing. But guess who had loads and loads of the 'where-with-all' – you guessed it – the deeper pocket was targeted.
This will always be the case in the world of litigation and although in Australia during Prime Minister John Howard's tenure, his revamping of such laws has restricted such payouts, nonetheless, it remains lucrative for an entrepreneurial legal team.
Today on our television sets we see various types of appeals to the public promoted by legal teams of one sort or another, championing at the bit to take on your case with the proviso you only pay them if you win.
What this means
This kind of promotion means that every possible litigant is posed with a problem. How do I protect myself and my family from someone who has me in their sights and with this kind of invitation will inevitably come after me.
Everyone's a target. Every institution is a target.
Insurance companies will tell story after story of fraudulent claims. We have seen them on current affair type television programs where such things as dummy car crashes are enacted, and the subsequent injured party who walks with a limp and walking stick, ie videoed doing the most remarkable acrobatics with the kids.
Protection
As everyone's a target, this means that the family home is up for grabs. Those who hold office in volunteer organisations which includes many missions, positions such as the Public Officer, who is the responsible person for the good functioning including the finances are "inexplicitly vulnerable".
In my ministries over 39 years, initially the sports ministry and now Well-Being Australia, I am mindful of such issues and am on constant alert for anything that might sneak past the ramparts, as it were.
I've been fortunate in having around me good legal advice and wisdom which has held me in good stead in coordinating these volunteer missions. Moreover the volunteers are often the great menace as they have great intentions but often fail to realise the consequences of their endeavours.
Obviously there are necessarily many checks and balances before anything is approved in the market place – that means the school yard, the shop, the sports field, the beach, what is published ....
Final analysis
What is known, is that the entity (institution or individual) with the deepest pockets will be targeted if something goes wrong. As sure as night follows day, the possibility of something going skew-rif is getting higher and higher with these predatory legal firms chasing down possible law suits.
Missions - talk to your legal people. Get good advice. Ensure you are covered in your institution (church or mission or voluntary group) and be as street wise as possible. Better still, be real smart, and start reading each day a portion of The Proverbs – as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.tml