Posts by Websters Lawyers
SEPARATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
When a relationship breaks down, it’s tough on everyone. Separation from a partner is always difficult, but especially at this time of year when the kids are on school holidays, everyone else seems to be enjoying quality family time and there are celebrations and festivities all around. If you’re separating from your partner, it’s worth…
Read MoreCAN YOU GET WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR A DEGENERATIVE INJURY?
What happens when you have a bad back, dodgy knee or other injury and it’s made worse by your work? Can you get workers compensation? That was the situation for a butcher who suffered a left knee injury and then won the right to have his knee replacement surgery paid for by his employer. In…
Read MorePOLICE POWERS: CAN I BE SEARCHED?
When a situation involves the police, it can be difficult to understand your legal rights and you may not want to rock the boat just in case it makes things worse. But at the same time, knowing your rights and how to assert them may save you a lot of inconvenience later on. One example…
Read MoreCHILD SEX ABUSE SURVIVORS: YOUR RIGHTS
Child sexual abuse can have a lifelong devastating impact. The psychological and physical trauma is unimaginable, but there’s also the impact of being involved in the whole legal process if a survivor decides to take action. This was the experience of one survivor when the High Court of Australia recently ruled that he could not…
Read MoreBROKEN ENGAGEMENT: CAN I GET BACK THE RING?
Who gets the ring when an engagement is broken? This was the issue in a recent case in the ACT. It raises interesting questions about whether engagement rings can be treated as gifts or as items that are held on trust until the parties marry. Background The man, who was from Canberra, travelled to Melbourne…
Read MoreCAN AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT BE A WILL?
When a man killed his wife and then changed his will by creating a document on his laptop computer, the Supreme Court had to decide whether the document was a legal will that could be admitted to probate. This decision raises interesting issues about how a will should be executed and whether courts should be…
Read MoreREPORT: SAPOL SEXUAL HARASSMENT A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM
In a new report, the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) has found sexual harassment and discrimination to be at shockingly high levels in the South Australian Police force (SAPOL). When SAPOL Commissioner Grant Stevens commissioned the EOC to conduct the independent review, most stakeholders would have thought that some key issues would be highlighted. But few…
Read MoreDRINK DRIVING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
While we’re in the thick of end of year parties and holiday season, we’re constantly reminded by the media not to drink and drive. We also hear plenty of reports about people being charged with drink driving when they have returned breathalyser results that are well over the legal limit. It’s easy to let that…
Read MoreDON’T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN AT THE OFFICE PARTY
In December, office party season ramps up. Having worked hard all year, it’s only natural that we want to let our hair down and celebrate at the expense of the boss. And so we should. After all, there’s got to be some perks to working. But party season can bring a whole set of troubles…
Read More