 In other words, the idea underpinning the law of tort is that if someone harms someone else, they should make up for it.Compensation should be, in the words of Lord Blackburn in "Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co",

"that sum of money which will put the party who has been injured in the same position as he would have been if he had not sustained the wrong for which he is now getting his compensation or reparation.