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 […]
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 […]
The Supreme Court of Queensland has dismissed an application under s48(5A) of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) to set aside a Deed of Settlement regarding institutional child sexual abuse, on the basis that it was not “just and reasonable” to do so. This judgment bodes well for institutions and their insurers facing re-opening […]
The Full Federal Court recently upheld a primary judgment rejecting the application of an insolvency exclusion in a claim brought against directors of a company in voluntary administration. The judgment in AIG Australia Limited v Kaboko Mining Limited [2019] FCAFC 96 provides useful guidance on the scope of the application of insolvency exclusions. Wotton Kearney’s […]
The NSW Court of Appeal has ruled that there is scope for defendants, in the context of historic child sexual abuse claims, to apply to permanently stay proceedings on the basis of inability to obtain a fair trial, even though such claims are no longer statute barred under the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW). The circumstances […]
Welcome to Wotton Kearney’s snapshot of the key trends and emerging risks in general liability insurance in Australia. In this edition we look at the impact of recent significant matters, including the Lacrosse cladding fire litigation conducted by our Melbourne team, the ongoing risk of concussion claims and prison authority liability claims. We also look […]
On 28 February 2019, Australia’s first decision regarding the roles and responsibilities of builders and other building consultants regarding the use of combustible cladding was handed down. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld the Owners Corporation and lot owners’ claims against the builder following a fire in November 2014 that involved combustible ACP cladding […]
Globe Church Incorporated v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2019] NSWCA 27 Wotton Kearney acted for Allianz in a NSW Court of Appeal proceeding where judgment was issued yesterday clarifying – albeit by a 3-2 split decision – the issue of when a cause of action accrues against a first party insurer for limitation purposes. The decision […]
Mainzeal Property v. Yan & Ors This week, the New Zealand High Court awarded $36m in damages against directors of Mainzeal, once one of New Zealand’s leading property and construction companies, including former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley. The damages are the highest awarded for reckless trading in New Zealand’s history. The case raises a […]
The Victorian Supreme Court recently summarily dismissed the lead Plaintiffs’ claims in Block v Powercor, a bushfire class action issued against a Victorian electricity distributor. The decision is noteworthy as summary dismissals are rare, particularly in class actions and representative proceedings. While the decision largely turned on its facts, it reinforces the principle explained by the High […]
