appendix d: summaries of selected cases 5-3. Case processing in criminal injuries compensation case unacceptable and a matter for extreme criticism In 2005 a woman applied to the Greenland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for criminal injuries compensation. In 2009 she complained to the Ombudsman about the Board’s processing of the case. The Ombudsman stated that in his opinion it was regrettable that the Greenland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board told the woman’s lawyer that the entire preparation of the case was his responsibility; that it was a regrettable error when the Board advised the lawyer in a letter of 6 November 2006 to contact a wrong authority; and that it was a matter for severe criticism that the Board did not correct the error until more than 22 months later. In addition, the Ombudsman stated that the case processing time was a matter for severe criticism and that it was a matter for criticism that the Board did not inform the woman’s lawyer on its own initiative that the case would not be brought to a conclusion in March 2006 – when the Board had expected the case to be concluded according to information previously given to the lawyer by the Board. And it was a matter for extraordinary criticism that the Board took almost three months to reply to a fax of 27 April 2006 in which the woman’s lawyer asked when a decision in the case would be reached. Overall, the Ombudsman found the processing of the case to be unacceptable and a matter for extreme criticism. The Ombudsman recommended to the Greenland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board that the Board consider whether actual targets should be established for the Board’s case processing times. As major errors and derelictions had in the Ombudsman’s opinion been committed in the case, he notified the Legal Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament and the Minister of Justice of the case. (Case No. 2009-0911-600) 109