On 15 Nov 2003 00:07:03 GMT, David Buttery
wrote:

"Will" wrote here on 14 Nov 2003:

snip
But in these days of litigation, auditors and bean-counters breathing
down your neck what would you do ?
snip
Yes, but (though IANAL and all that) I think it might be dangerous to
assume that only under-forecasting would be subject to that sort of
thing. It's not hard to imagine over-forecasting having the same
problems.

This old chestnut keeps popping up... but has anyone actually heard of
a successful prosecution against *any* UK forecasting service or
forecaster? It would not be easy for a prosecution of this kind to
succeed (there are many high hurdles to get over) and until one has,
it seems a waste of time, effort and money for it to be taken into
account when issuing forecasts.

According to this 2003 American report:
http://www.rbs2.com/forecast.pdf on page 48,
"There have been only two reported cases that went to trial in which
the plaintiffs made a convincing proof of negligence against the
National Weather Service". And that is in the litigation mad USA!

So, has this ever happened in the UK? I haven't heard of it and if
not, the "litigation" explanation for "over the top" forecasting
sounds like an excuse, does it not?

--
Dave