Consumer protection credit has been put in place as a safeguard against destitution. In other words, if you are sued and the plaintive wins an award, they cannot take everything you own. Only a percentage of your wages can be garnished. You have to be left with some for your own survival. In addition, you cannot be fired or demoted because someone has won a lawsuit against you. You boss can garnish your wages to be sent to the court. But, you cannot be punished more, just because he/she knows you have a legal judgment against you. Similar laws are in place to protect businesses against unreasonable lawsuits that are tantamount to torture, rather than just compensation and punitive damages.