Press Releases and Announcements 2005

Press Releases and Announcements Archive

Commonwealth Bank's 'bottom of the harbour' staff scheme earns record $750,000 penalty - 16 December 2005

Court challenge for peace activist's security review - 13 December 2005

Maurice Blackburn hosts inaugural International Class Actions Conference

A conference of international class action experts and Australian shareholder, legal and regulatory leaders met in Melbourne recently to examine trends in litigation.

The inaugural class action conference was sponsored by our firm and held on 1 and 2 December 2005 at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne.

The conference speakers included:

Deputy Chair of ASIC Jeremy Cooper on "Corporate wrongdoing: ASIC's enforcement role"
Federal Court Chief Justice Michael Black on the class actions regime over the past 13 years.
AGS Senior Executive Lawyer, Susan Pryde on "Boral and Beyond - Where are we going with s46 of the Trade Practices Act 1974?"

Maurice Blackburn speakers included chairman Bernard Murphy on "Current trends and issues in Australian class actions" and Special Counsel Dr Peter Cashman on "Litigating Australian claims in other countries: Prospects and problems for plaintiffs".

About 50 conference delegates representing regulators, superannuation funds, economic consultancies, litigation funder IMF and lawyers from the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand, participated.

Maurice Blackburn is Australia's largest and pre-eminent shareholder and cartel class action firm, with six large and complex shareholder class actions completed or underway and Australia's first cartel class action presently on foot.

Conference Convenor, Principal Kim Parker, said the conference presented a unique opportunity for those with an interest in the field to come together and share strategies for the successful conduct of these cases.

Some of the Maurice Blackburn papers are available on request. For further information contact Tina Vecchio on (03) 9605 2700 or tvecchio@mauriceblackburn.com.au.

Updated 6 December 2005

Maurice Blackburn to host International Class Actions Conference in Melbourne - 28 November 2005

Promotions

Maurice Blackburn CEO, Greg Tucker, today announced the following senior appointments at the firm:

Principal:

Andrew Watson - Major Projects, Melbourne

Senior Associates:

Lyn Honan, Melbourne Office
Danny Frigerio - WorkCover, Sunshine Office

Associates:

Anna Neesham - Major Projects, Melbourne Office

Gino Andrieri - WorkCover, Dandenong Office

He said the appointments recognised their efforts on behalf of the firm's clients.

Updated 25 November 2005

Worker awarded $1 Million by jury after developing PTSD.

Maurice Blackburn recently won a jury verdict of $956,846 for a child protection worker who developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety and depression.

WorkCover Principal Liberty Sanger said she believed the jury award was a record in the County Court in Victoria.

Our client was sent to a house without a warrant to convince a father to voluntarily hand over his daughter into residential care.

The family had a long history with the Department of Human Services and there were allegations of sexual and physical abuse to both the daughter and the wife from the father, sons and male cousins.

The worker was assaulted, threatened and chased by the father when he went to the family home.

His supervisor later conceded in court that had he been aware of the contents of the family's file, he would not have sent the worker to the house to try to negotiate a voluntary release. He would have obtained a warrant.

After the frightening incident, the worker returned to work. However, he was increasingly unable to cope at home and work. He finally saw a psychiatrist three and a half years after the incident was diagnosed with PTSD. He has been unable to return to work.

Ms Sanger said the case illustrated the important of employers protecting their employees from harm.

"Our client's life has been forever changed by this workplace incident," she said.

"We are very pleased that the jury recognised the seriousness of the damage to this man's life and awarded appropriate compensation," she said.

The award was for common law damages arising from the employer's negligence.

Updated 21 November 2005

High Court grants special leave application from woman seeking to sue Geoff Clark - 18 November 2005

Law Institute of Victoria Award Recognises Lillian Cooney

Lillian Cooney, who practises as a consultant to Maurice Blackburn, has been presented with an award for services by the Law Institute of Victoria.

Lillian recently received the General Award in the LIV's Legal Awards 2005.

She has 40 years legal experience in the areas of property and trusts and commercial, industrial and administrative law. She also acts in horse breeding and racing matters and is the honorary solicitor to the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Inc. She is a sessional member of VCAT and a member of the Legal Professional Tribunal.

Lillian established the first all-female legal partnership of Gill Kane in Melbourne in 1963, together with Deidre Fitzgerald.

The firm, Gill Kane & Brophy, merged with Maurice Blackburn from 1 March 2005.

Maurice Blackburn CEO Greg Tucker said Lillian was an inspiration to younger members of the profession.

"She is to be congratulated on her achievements, as recognised by this important award. Lillian is a valuable asset to our firm, and a positive role model for women in the law," Mr Tucker said.

Updated 15 November 2005

Australian victims of Irish institutions urged to apply for urgent compensation - 25 October 2005

Shire must pay over $6.2 million to injured man - 23 September 2005

Peace activist agrees to be removed from Australia but challenges security review - 13 September 2005

Commonweath Bank in Industrial 'Avoidance Scheme' - 9 September 2005

High Court decision warning

A High Court decision to uphold a ban on personal injury lawyers advertising their services in New South Wales should send alarm bells ringing for other professions, according to lawyers who fought the case. In a 5 - 2 decision, the High Court today found against the Australian Lawyers Alliance, law firm Maurice Blackburn Cashman and solicitor Bob Whyburn, who claimed that the advertising ban was unconstitutional because it impeded peoples' rights to access the courts.

Australian Lawyers Alliance president Richard Faulks said the decision should be a serious concern for other professions, "because if governments can impose these types of restrictions on lawyers, they can do it for any other industry".

"This is also a blow for injured people and their ability to access information about their legal rights, and seek justice for the wrongdoing of others."

"If people have rights to take legal action, then they should have the right to access appropriate and accurate information about those rights," Mr Faulks said.Justices Kirby and McHugh supported arguments advanced by the plaintiffs and concluded that the NSW legislation infringes the Constitution and principles of the rule of law.

Dr. Peter Cashman, special counsel at Maurice Blackburn, said the decision is "incredibly disappointing for injured people".

"Communication between lawyers and the public, like all other forms of communication in this country, should not be banned or subject to criminal prosecution."

"We now have one law regarding advertising in New South Wales, another in Queensland and other laws in the rest of the country - this is not good law," he said. Bob Whyburn, who is now with Maurice Blackburn, said injured people in New South Wales "will come to discover they have lost an important freedom - access to information to make a choice about their legal options".

Updated 2 September 2005

Further Supreme Court Judgment Against Gio Directors Welcomed By Class Action Lawyer - 24 August 2005

Refugee sues Federal Government and detention centre operators over treatment in detention - 15 August 2005

NEW CHAIR OF ESTATE AGENTS COUNCIL APPOINTED

The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marsha Thomson, today welcomed the appointment of Michael Brett Young as the new chair of the Estate Agent's Council.

"Mr Brett Young brings an outstanding skill set to the position and will be a valuable asset to the council," said Ms Thomson.

"As senior executive director Maurice Blackburn, Mr Brett Young has overseen all interstate, suburban and regional areas of the legal firm throughout Australia for the last four years.

"He has over 27 years of legal experience, including personal injury litigations, and commercial and liquor licensing."

Ms Thomson said Mr Brett Young had been appointed for a three-year term.

The Estate Agents Council reports directly to the Minister for Consumer Affairs and has responsibility for:

- promoting appropriate standards of conduct and competency of persons in the real estate industry;
- protecting the interests of persons using real estate services;
- ensuring effective procedures exist for the resolution of disputes between persons in the real estate industry and persons using real estate services; and
- furthering the above objectives as far as is practicable in conjunction with relevant real estate industry associations.

"I have asked the Council to look into new and emerging market practices such as boardroom auctions, sealed bids or other hybrid sale methods which combine a form of auction with private sale," Ms Thomson said.

"The Government needs to keep a watch on emerging practices to ensure transparency and fairness for consumers.

"The Estate Agents Council has an important part to play by investigating issues and providing me with advice on how to deal with it."

Updated 12 August 2005

CLASS ACTION EXPERT TO JOIN UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY LAW SCHOOL

Dr Peter Cashman, who helped pioneer the use of class actions as a remedy for consumers in Australia, has joined the University of Sydney as an Associate Professor in the Law faculty.

Dr Cashman will retain his position as Special Counsel at Maurice Blackburn Cashman and will continue to assist the firm in class actions.

Dean of the Law School, Professor Ron McCallum, said he was delighted the school was able to secure Dr Cashman as a lecturer for the next two years.

Dr Cashman said the role would enable him to combine the theory and practice of law.

"I also intend to use the time away from the demands of a busy practice to complete a book on class actions law and practice," he said.

Dr Cashman will lecture in civil litigation and trial advocacy.

Dr Cashman has appeared before many United States courts in major product liability cases and class actions; including the Bjork-Shiley heart valve and breast implants. He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and National President of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association (now Australian Lawyers Alliance). He received a Civil Justice Award for his pioneering work.

He was a Commissioner with the Australian Reform Commission and worked on the Reference on Class Actions. He was Founding Director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, and subsequently established the Sydney office of Cashman & Partners, which has merged with Maurice Blackburn in 1999 to form the national legal firm Maurice Blackburn. The firm has conducted many of the major class actions in Australia, including the landmark case resulting in the largest ever shareholder settlement of $97 million for over 22,000 former investors in GIO following a hostile takeover by AMP.

Last Updated 5 July 2005

Maurice Blackburn is pleased to support the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Inc.

Maurice Blackburn has assisted the RILC to send two lawyers to the Baxter Detention Centre to help 25 people who have been offered a 'Removal Pending Bridging Visa'. These people have no other access to any other legal advice about whether they should accept the offer of the visa.

Most of these people have been held in immigration detention for over three years.

The Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre provide free legal help to thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and disadvantaged migrants in Victoria and throughout Australia every year.

Updated 29 June 2005

CHANGES TO MANAGEMENT AT MAURICE BLACKBURN

Maurice Blackburn has announced changes to its management structure, including appointment of a national CEO effective from 1 July.

Greg Tucker has been appointed CEO and will be based in the Melbourne office.

Mr Tucker has been running the Sydney office of the firm. He is a lawyer and former CEO of the Noall Group until its 2001 merger with D & D Tolhurst.

Mr Tucker is also a former Professor and Head of the Banking and Finance Department at Monash University.

He rejoined Maurice Blackburn as a Board member in January 2004 and as Sydney CEO in August 2004.

In other appointments, former Managing Director Michael Brett Young has taken the role as Senior Executive Director of the firm.

Principal Bernard Murphy has also been appointed Chairman of the Board and will continue in his role as head of the Major Projects department.

Mr Tucker said the appointments reflected the new executive structure of the firm.

"We have recognised the increasing need for law firms to do more than provide the best legal services. They must also operate in a competitive environment as professional, well run organisations," he said.

Updated 28 June 2005

Maurice Blackburn to commence class action against Liquorland and Woolworths - 27 June 2005

Court of Appeal upholds $5.6 million damages claim - 22 June 2005

New Principals appointments at Maurice Blackburn

Maurice Blackburn is pleased to announce the following appointments to Principals:

Anne Gooley, Employment and Industrial Law Section, Melbourne
Geraldine Collins, TAC Sunshine office, Melbourne
Rebecca Gilsenan, Major Projects, Sydney
Anna Walsh, Sydney office*

Maurice Blackburn Managing Director Michael Brett Young said the appointments reflected a wealth of available talent in the law firm.

"Congratulations to these women who have demonstrated their commitment to providing the best quality legal advice and support to our clients.

"We will shortly add to our leadership team with a further announcement of Associates," Mr Brett Young said.

Please note, under NSW law we are not able to advise you of Anna Walsh's area of practice. Under the Legal Profession Amendment (Personal Injury) Advertising 2003 it is an offence to publish or permit to be published any communication or information, which advertises or otherwise promotes any reference to personal injury or legal services in respect of personal injury.

Updated 21 June 2005

Wave of silica disease legal claims on the way - 20 June 2005

Congratulations to new Member of Parliament

Congratulations to James Burke, who was elected to the Northern Territory Parliament in the elections on 18 June 2005.

James moved back to the Northern Territory recently after three and a half years with the TAC department of Maurice Blackburn.

TAC Melbourne Principal John Voyage congratulated James on his election.

"I know that James will be a diligent and keen representative for his constituents in the Northern Territory, as he has very good experience in advocating for the rights of people, particularly injured people," Mr Voyage said.

Updated 20 June 2005