In the UK it is now common for solicitors to advertise for business from anyone who has had an accident in the past three years. They do this in the newspapers, on TV and radio and even in hospital A&E units.

My son has recently had cause to sue his ex employers for a back injury caused by their negligence. His solicitor is now encouraging him to increase the amount of his claim by including the cost of retraining for another career. Andy wouldn't even have thought about this if not prompted and would have been quite content to have his loss of earnings and an amount for pain and suffering. Of course, the bigger the payout the more money the solicitor can make in costs from the defendant.

I'm in total agreement that anyone who has a righteous cause of action should be compensated. Prison is not supposed to be easy - it should be a deterrent. What human rights are being denied if a person has to undertake menial duties in prison - a lot of our population have to do these sort of duties to make a living - are their human rights being denied?And if the guy has to 'slop out' instead of having a toilet in his cell?