Case Alerts - Page 11 of 15

Articles, Case Alerts

The combustible cladding crisis continues with Biowood

The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) decision in Taylor Construction has put the spotlight on another form of combustible cladding – Biowood. With NCAT accepting that Biowood is a combustible building material that poses an undue fire risk, the Taylor Construction decision has had widespread coverage within the residential strata property industry so owners’ corporations […]

By : Anja Vogel Jan 20, 2020 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Decision confirms need to address clear criteria in pursuing direct recoveries against insurers

Sergienko v AXL Financial Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1610 On 21 November 2019, the Supreme Court of NSW dismissed an application brought by the fourth and fifth defendant seeking leave for joinder of an insurer in place of a deregistered legal practice under Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers) Act 2017 (NSW). This decision confirms […]

By : Anja Vogel Jan 17, 2020 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Tragic jetty fall case tests many civil liability issues

Polglase v Coffs Harbour City Council (No 2) [2019] NSWSC 1848 On 19 December 2019, the NSW Supreme Court gave judgment in a complex case involving multiple defendants, which followed a tragic accident involving a young child who fell from a jetty. Wotton Kearney acted for the State of NSW in its successful defence of […]

By : Anja Vogel Dec 20, 2019 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

The critical role of decision makers in adverse action claims

The recent Full Federal Court of Australia decision, Australian Red Cross Society v Queensland Nursing Union of Employees [2019] FCAFC215, serves as a timely reminder of the importance of “decision maker” evidence in adverse actions claims. In this update, Wotton Kearney’s Chris Mossman and Lisa Schumacher look at employers’ exposures around decision makers and ways insureds […]

By : Anja Vogel Dec 17, 2019 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

Federal Court orders defendant to pay indemnity costs for misconduct

BAM Property Group Pty Ltd as trustee for BAM Property Trust v Imoda Group Holdings Pty Ltd (No.2) [2019] FCA 2072 On 9 December 2019, the Federal Court ordered the unsuccessful defendants in a shareholder oppression action to pay the plaintiffs’ costs of the entire proceedings on an indemnity basis. In this update, Andrew Moore […]

By : Anja Vogel Dec 11, 2019 Comments Off

Case Alerts

NSW Court of Appeal provides guidance on applications for the determination of separate questions

On 21 November 2019, the NSW Court of Appeal re-exercised the Court’s discretion to determine the limitation defence as a separate question in a dispute between a lender and a valuation firm. The decision, in which Wotton Kearney successfully acted for the valuation firm, provides guidance on when a separate question determination is appropriate. In […]

By : Anja Vogel Nov 25, 2019 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

Revisiting historical sexual abuse settlements in NSW

A recent decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Magann v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Paramatta [2019] NSWSC 1453 affirmed the “once and for all” effect of a 2007 deed of release between the applicant plaintiff (Magann) and respondent defendant (Diocese). This matter involved Mr Magann […]

By : Anja Vogel Oct 31, 2019 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

More rights against those whose wrongs are not intentional

On 25 October 2019, The Victorian Court of Appeal found a claimant does not need to establish they have a “significant injury” to claim general damages if they allege they are the victim of an “intentional act that was done with intent to cause death or injury or that is sexual assault or other sexual […]

By : Anja Vogel Oct 28, 2019 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay?

In this case, the High Court of Australia ruled a builder was not owed for variations for “work and labour done” after a building contract was terminated in Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32. This decision shows that builders who fail to follow the formal variation process under the Act are at risk, as […]

By : Anja Vogel Oct 16, 2019 Comments Off

Case Alerts

$3.5+ million in damages awarded in child sexual abuse case

In this case, Judge Fagan of the NSW Supreme Court assessed damages for a man who suffered a psychological injury following historic child sexual abuse. As a result of the abuse, the plaintiff suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, medication-related obesity and other related health issues. The defendant had previously plead guilty to related […]

By : Anja Vogel Oct 13, 2019 Comments Off

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