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Our team regularly produces articles and updates on legal developments and the implications for clients. Our latest publications can be viewed below. Alternatively, use the Search function on the left to find the topic of your choice.
Telstra win: Fed Court upholds slip & fall decision
July 14, 2020
Dring v Telstra Corporation Limited [2020] FCA 699. Key Points: The Federal Court was required to consider whether Ms Dring sustained an injury arising out of, or in the course of, her employment with Telstra. The Tribunal found that Ms Dring sustained the injury in an interval of her employment with Telstra and, therefore, […]
AAT confirms denial of liability for epicondylitis in call centre worker
July 13, 2020
Shirreff and Comcare [2020] AATA 1710 (11 June 2020). Key Points: The Tribunal was asked to decide whether an employee developed epicondylitis as a result of repetitive duties at work. The Tribunal found in favour of Comcare. Background: Ms Jenny Shirreff was employed by the Department of Human Services in Victoria, as a […]
Specialist Opinion Cure for Significant Delay in Extension Application
July 1, 2020
Masters v Daoud [2020] QDC 38. Key Points: Rinaudo DCJ of the District Court of Queensland was required to consider whether, in an application for an extension of time pursuant to s 31 of the Limitations of Actions Act 1974 (Qld): specialist opinion constituted a “material fact of a decisive character”; and before that […]
Gender diversity maintained through HBA 2020 promotions
June 26, 2020
MEDIA RELEASE: Iona Sjahadi and Claire Tota will take up their positions at the HBA Legal partnership table from next month. The pair, who are being elevated from Senior Associate, will take over the practice areas of HBA Legal co-founders and Directors Nathan Hepple and Brett Ablong respectively, who will move into full-time business management […]
Working from home a permanent option in the interests of wellness
May 14, 2020
HBA Legal has become the first Australian firm to offer working from home arrangements to every employee, in a post COVID-19 world. The defendant-only insurance firm was one of the first to move to working from home arrangements for all its people after coronavirus was declared a pandemic. In recent weeks there has been a […]
Tribunal concludes that Telstra didn’t cause heart attack
April 17, 2020
Faltusz and Telstra Corporation Ltd [2019] AATA 5995. Key Points: Mr Faltusz claimed workers’ compensation following a heart attack, suffered outside of his workplace, while he was waiting for a bus. The Tribunal found there was no link between Mr Faltusz’s employment and the claimed condition. The Tribunal found in favour of the employer. […]
What we can learn from NZ’s workers’ compensation scheme regarding hernia claims?
April 17, 2020
David MacDonald v Accident Compensation Corporation [2009] NZACC 153. Background: In the United Kingdom in 1996, Smith G D, Crosby D L and Lewis P A conducted a study into 129 patients who had a total of 145 inguinal hernias. The study showed that in only 7% of cases the hernia was subjectively attributable to […]
Full or partial remittal? That is the question
April 17, 2020
Lim and Comcare (Compensation) [2018] AATA 4354. Key Points: Psychological injury sustained in the course of reasonable administrative action Decision remitted to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from the Full Court of the Federal Court There was a question over whether the Full Court’s remittal to the Tribunal was a full or partial remittal Breach […]
HBA home to ‘Best Lawyers’
April 17, 2020
Insurance law experts Dr Andrew Lu OAM and Ruth Slater have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Today, Best Lawyers publishes lists in 75 countries. “Best Lawyers was founded […]
Extension of limitation period denied, in favour of Doctor
April 16, 2020
Smith v Reader [2020] QSC 48. Key Points: The Supreme Court of Queensland considered an application for an extension of the limitation period on the basis of an expert report constituting a “material fact of a decisive character” pursuant to s 31 of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld), and whether there was […]