Posts by Websters Lawyers
Teacher’s Appeal Fails: Court Highlights Harm of Online Child Abuse
The South Australian Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by former Yorke Peninsula teacher Thomas Ackland, who sought to reduce his 14-year prison sentence for child sex offences. In this decision, the Court recognised that online communication offending can blur the lines between physical and non-physical abuse, with both forms causing significant harm to…
Read MoreCasual Care Worker to be Paid $23,000 Penalty After Six Weeks’ Work
A woman who worked for six weeks as a casual care worker and who wasn’t paid her wages of just over $5,000 is now to be paid $23,000 by the employer as a penalty for contravening her employment rights. This decision, handed down by the South Australian Employment Tribunal, underscores the serious consequences employers face…
Read MoreWhen Can I Move with My Children Overseas?
One of the most difficult decisions a court must make in family law arises when one parent wants to relocate with their children overseas. These cases require the Court to carefully balance the rights of the relocating parent to live where they choose with the best interests of the children, which is always the paramount…
Read MoreMore Families Come Forward About Yorke Peninsula Teacher’s Predatory Behaviour
As more survivors of abuse by a Yorke Peninsula school teacher come forward, there is growing support for the families affected by the predator involved. The case of Thomas Robert Ackland, a former Kadina Memorial School teacher, has left a trail of devastation in its wake, with victims and their families grappling with the long-term…
Read MoreA Million-dollar Claim Denied: How a Priest’s Abuse Went Uncompensated
In a heartbreaking case that underscores the challenges faced by survivors of historical child sexual abuse, a man who suffered horrific abuse as a child at the hands of a priest in the 1970s was denied compensation despite the Court accepting that he had been sexually abused and suffered lifelong harm. The New South Wales…
Read MoreHow Did a Husband Walk Away With $1.4 Million While His Wife & Kids Were Left With Nothing?
In a shocking case that has sparked calls for urgent legal reform, a husband managed to walk away with $1.4 million in cash after refinancing a property, leaving his wife and their five children with no assets to divide in their family law property settlement. Despite a Court injunction prohibiting him from encumbering the property…
Read MoreTea Chain Chatime Penalised for Failing to Pay Workers Over $162,000
In a landmark case that exposes the troubling reality of wage underpayments in Australia, popular beverage chain Chatime has been penalised after failing to pay over $162,000 in wages and entitlements to its employees. This decision highlights the astonishing extent to which workers can still be underpaid despite the legal protections in place. The…
Read MoreMan’s Appeal Succeeds in Case of Being ‘Run Down’ by Estranged Wife
A man who claimed he was “run down” by his estranged wife’s car has successfully appealed a court decision that denied him damages. The original judge found that the woman was acting in a state of fear and panic due to the man’s aggressive behaviour. Notably, the woman had previously been charged with serious criminal…
Read MoreThe Succession Act 2023: Why You Need to Act Now to Protect Your Estate and Loved Ones
If you have a Will, are the beneficiary under a Will, or believe you may have a claim against an estate, it is crucial to understand how changes to South Australia’s succession laws could affect you. From 1 January 2025, new laws impact how Wills are interpreted, estates are administered, and inheritance claims are made…
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