The award of $5.7 million in damages to a Melbourne wrestler has highlighted the complexities of the present debate over liability insurance and tort reform. Constantine Foscolos became a quadraplegic after he was thrown heavily by his opponent.

Melbourne Supreme Court Judge Bernard Bongiorno made the award against the Footscray Youth Club and its coach (at the time) for negligence. The defendants denied liability.

The case attracted considerable media attention, and came at the peak of the controversy over the expense and low availability of some classes of liability insurance.