Aer rianta presumably have an insurer who was dealing with the claim. It is in the insurers interests that there are a steady stream of claims, a fair proportion of which (esp. the cheap ones) are successful, on the steps of the court if possible, so they don't have to pay the hearing costs. The madder these successful claims are the better for the insurance companies because then their clients get more and more scared about possible claims and are more willing to pay insurance premiums rather than self insure. The insurance business is an industry like any other and seeks continuing growth, more claims, more growth, higher premiums, bigger profits. Piab suits the insurers because they can get more of the potential pot because they don't have to pay the lawyers. So in reply to the heading on the thread "Settling out of court just encourages it" , absolutely , thats the whole point. Welcome to capitalism.