Posts by Websters Lawyers
Short De Facto Relationships – Substantial Contributions and Serious Injustice
When a short de facto relationship breaks down there are limited circumstances under which the Family Court can decide on who gets what. In order to apply in the Family Court, the parties need to satisfy at least one of the following criteria: The parties have been in a de facto relationship for a period of…
Read MoreQuarter of a million dollar payday for teenage worker!
A teenager just five months out of school who was underpaid around $8,000 stands to receive a further $240,000 in penalties from his employer. The employer had failed to pay the teenager for absence from work on a public holiday, penalty rates for when he did work on a public holiday, his entitlement in lieu…
Read MoreWhen It Hurts to Be Casual – Understanding Your Rights as a Casual Worker
With multiple public holidays looming and businesses closing for the New Year, casual employees often find it difficult to get by during the holiday period. Though there are in excess of two million employees within Australia believed to be employed on a casual basis, many workers are unaware not only of what rights they attract…
Read More“Defacto couple” or just “boyfriend & girlfriend”? What’s the difference?
When a ‘couple’ split-up, and there is a dispute over property, the nature of their relationship is relevant to whether the Family Court of Australia has jurisdiction to decide on who gets what. Recently, the Family Court considered a situation in which a couple who had been living defacto changed the nature of their relationship. …
Read MoreHearing loss claims made easy
Do you suffer from hearing loss as a result of your work? Many people might say, “I think so, but how do I know?” Perhaps the main concerns for many workers who are thinking about making a claim for hearing loss are, “How do I prove that work was the cause? Where did it happen…
Read MoreAre you planning a getaway this holiday season?
Whilst you are busy preparing your itinerary, travel insurance and packing for your holiday it is important not to forget about your Will and Power of Attorney. The chances are that you will return relaxed and rejuvenated from your trip however have you considered what would happen to your assets if something were to happen while you are…
Read MoreTribunal upholds overweight worker’s claim for $18,000 weight loss surgery cost
An injured worker who claimed the cost of gastric bypass surgery to enable her to lose weight so as to alleviate the pressure on her knee which was injured after a fall at work has successfully defended an appeal against the award of compensation for the $18,000 procedure. The workers compensation insurer had refused to pay for…
Read MoreIt wasn’t ‘accidental’ touching – $30,000 for victim of sexual harassment at work
A Foodland employee who suffered sexual harassment at the hands of her male co-worker has been awarded compensation against both him and the employer after the South Australian Employment Tribunal found that the physical contact he had with her was more than the ‘accidental touching’ that he claimed. The harassment involved inappropriate touching and comments…
Read MorePolice Assault Victim Still Entitled To Receive Over $135,000
The Supreme Court has upheld an award of damages of over $135,000 to a man who successfully sued after he was the victim of assault, battery and unlawful imprisonment by SA Police. The Court found that the action by police constituted a ‘grave and frightening abuse of their powers of entry, search and detention’ after…
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