Placeholder Content Image

The wild reason woman is suing her boyfriend

<p dir="ltr">A woman from New Zealand is suing her boyfriend after he failed to give her a lift to the airport, causing her to miss her flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman, who has remained anonymous, asked her partner to pick her up from home and drop her at the airport, but he failed to show up. </p> <p dir="ltr">As a result, she missed her flight and was forced to travel the following day, missing a concert she had tickets for. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman was so enraged that she took her partner of six years to the Disputes Tribunal to try and get him to cover some of the money she’d lost.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman also wanted to be compensated because her boyfriend had not stayed at her house while she was away to look after her dogs, which he had agreed to do.</p> <p dir="ltr">She claimed their agreement had constituted a legally binding agreement and was seeking to be paid travel costs and the cost of putting her dogs in kennels.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tribunal referee Krysia Cowi said in a statement, “partners, friends and colleagues make social arrangements, but it is unlikely they can be legally enforced unless the parties perform some act that demonstrates an intention that they will be bound by their promises”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When friends fail to keep their promises, the other person may suffer a financial consequence but it may be that they cannot be compensated for that loss,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cowie said the promises made within the relationship fell short of a contract and dismissed the woman’s case, with the couple breaking up as a result. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Pauline Hanson sued over racially insensitive tweet

<p>Pauline Hanson has been taken to court over a racially insensitive tweet aimed at Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, with Hanson's lawyers claiming she was merely responding to Faruqi's "provocative" comments. </p> <p>In 2022, Hanson sent a public message on Twitter to Ms Faruqi, telling her to "pack (her) bags and piss off back to Pakistan".</p> <p>Hanson's outburst was prompted by a post by Faruqi following the Queen's death, in which she wrote she could not mourn the passing of the leader of a "racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples".</p> <p>Senator Mehreen Faruqi is suing the One Nation leader in the Federal Court over alleged racist discrimination, with the trial beginning on Monday. </p> <p>Faruqi's barrister Saul Holt KC said the "demeaning and insulting" tweet was targeted towards his client as a Muslim woman of colour who had migrated to Australia, adding that such language from a public figure was extremely damaging to Faruqi and other migrants. </p> <p>Holt went on to say that the tweet was part of a pattern of racially insensitive behaviour from Hanson, saying the public message was "pernicious and deeply harmful". </p> <p>"A tweet of this kind in the Twittersphere, the dogwhistle doesn't just stand on its own," Holt said.</p> <p>Faruqi is seeking court orders that the One Nation leader donate $150,000 to a charity of the Greens senator's choice.</p> <p>Hanson's barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC called the lawsuit "unmeritorious", arguing her client had responded to an offensive tweet by the Greens senator which was designed to provoke a response.</p> <p>"The wording used by my client ... is directed to Senator Faruqi and Senator Faruqi alone," Chrysanthou said.</p> <p>Chrysanthou went on to say Faruqi's comments were hypocritical, given that she had previously sworn an oath of allegiance to the former monarch when she became an Australian senator. </p> <p>Ms Faruqi is due to appear in the witness box as the trial continues. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Madonna sued by fans over concert starting late

<p dir="ltr">Madonna is being sued by two former fans, after her concert started more than two hours behind schedule. </p> <p dir="ltr">The lawsuit was filed in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, with New York residents and former fans Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden saying the pop star’s actions were "unconscionable and unfair.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The men are suing the veteran performer for "deceptive trade practices" and "false advertisement", after they attended her concert at the New York Barclays Center last December. </p> <p dir="ltr">As per the flyers for the show, Madonna was set to take to the stage at 8:30pm, but the highly-anticipated show didn’t begin until well after 10:30pm. </p> <p dir="ltr">The complainants said that the callous delay resulted in the fans facing issues like "limited public transportation, limited ride-sharing, and/or increased public and private transportation costs" after the show on December 13th ended past midnight. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to Fellows and Hadden, this constitutes a breach of contract.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Madonna had demonstrated flippant difficulty in ensuring a timely or complete performance, and Defendants were aware that any statement as to a start time for a show constituted, at best, optimistic speculation," the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The lawsuit went on to claim that Madonna’s disregard for timeliness was not an isolated incident, with her following two shows also starting hours behind schedule. </p> <p dir="ltr">They said the performer's actions "constitute not just a breach of their contracts but also a wanton exercise in false advertising" and "negligent misrepresentation."</p> <p dir="ltr">Madonna has a history of beginning her shows late, the case claims: "Throughout her 2016 Rebel Heart Tour, her 2019-2020 Madame X Tour, and prior tours... Madonna continuously started her concerts over two hours late," with this history constituting a class-action status for the lawsuit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Back in 2016, Madonna was called out for her late behaviour, dismissively joking, “I’m hardly ever late. It’s you people that get here early that’s the problem. Just come late and I won’t have to come early.”</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-c9ca473b-7fff-06ba-ca09-16645badbf4c"></span></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Woman suing Bunnings over death of her father

<p>The daughter of Anthony James Georgiou, who lost his life <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/help-me-bunnings-thief-dies-after-security-guard-s-headlock-hold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after being placed in a headlock hold</a> by two security guards at a Bunnings store in Melbourne, is taking legal action against the retail chain.</p> <p>Anthony, 31, was apprehended by security contractors at a Frankston Bunnings in September 2016 after attempting to steal a gas cylinder and saw blade.</p> <p>According to reports, the security officers, Abdul Habib Brenzai and George Oyee, restrained Georgiou on the ground and in a headlock, despite his pleas for help and struggles to breathe. He lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away shortly afterward.</p> <p>In September 2022, a Victorian coroner then found that Georgiou’s death would not have occurred if he was not restrained by the contractors at Bunnings.</p> <p>"There seems little doubt that had Georgiou not been involved in the struggle ... he would have walked away from Bunnings that day,” coroner Darren Bracken said in his findings at the time. </p> <p>Now, represented by Slater and Gordon Lawyers, Anthony Georgiou's daughter – whose identity remains undisclosed due to her age – is suing the security officers, their employer (New Security Solutions Group), and Bunnings Warehouse. The lawsuit claims "psychological injury, shock, and financial loss" resulting from her father's untimely death.</p> <p>The statement of claim filed in the Victorian Country Court alleges that the security officers failed to exercise reasonable care and ensure Georgiou's safety by preventing him from leaving the store that day. The officers are accused of engaging in a "prolonged assault" and applying excessive pressure on his neck, actions that are deemed "intentional, reckless, and/or negligent."</p> <p>Furthermore, the security guard's employer, New Security Solutions Group, is accused of inadequate training and supervision of Brenzai and Oyee, contributing to the unfortunate incident.</p> <p>Bunnings is also facing accusations of failing to provide the guards and their employer with their code of conduct, which would have outlined their obligations regarding detaining individuals on the premises.</p> <p>Neha Pratap, a public liability lawyer from Slater and Gordon, asserted that dependents of individuals who die due to the negligence of others have the right to seek compensation. The legal team argues that Anthony's death was avoidable, and the lawsuit aims to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions or lack thereof.</p> <p>Anthony Georgiou’s family said their “lives have been forever altered” by his death in a statement. “We wish those responsible could understand the profound impact their action or inaction has had. <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Most affected is Anthony’s daughter, who has lost the joy and security that her father provided. She now lives with a constant void in her heart.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Images: Getty / A Current Affair</span></em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Bizarre reasons these musicians were sued by their own fans

<p>Musicians aren’t exactly strangers to the law. From copyright lawsuits and contract breaches to brawls and bad behaviour, it’s not all that uncommon for a rock or pop star to spend a few nights behind bars. What is rare, however, is fans being responsible for landing their idol on the stand. Here are four examples of fans suing their favourite musicians for some simply bizarre reasons.</p> <p><strong>1. Rod Stewart</strong></p> <p>The 72-year-old crooner has been a lifelong super fan of Celtic F.C., and has been known to kick a ball into the crowd at his concerts from time to time. However, this seemingly harmless act has left more than one fan worse for wear. In 1990, <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rod-stewart-soccer-ball-lawsuit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">a Michigan resident was awarded US$17,000</span></strong></a> after suing Stewart for kicking a ball the ruptured a tendon in her finger, which she said affected her sex life and led to the ruin of her marriage. Then, in 2012, a Californian man copped a football in the face, fracturing his naval cavity and <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11119759/Rod-Stewart-sued-by-fan-who-claims-he-broke-his-nose-on-a-flying-football.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">claiming US$10,000</span></strong></a> to fix it.</p> <p><strong>2. Prince</strong></p> <p>Back in 2004, the late Prince rented out a mansion belonging to NBA star basketballer Carlos Boozer, and made <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-carlos-boozer-prince-house-20160421-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">some serious changes</span></strong></a> to the place in order to make himself feel at home. These changes included repainting the exterior of the house in purple stripes, installing black carpet in a guest room and purple monogrammed carpet in the master suite. Naturally, Boozer wasn’t thrilled. He sued Prince for over US$25,000, but later dropped the charges after the singer amended the changes. Nevertheless, Boozer remains a fan to this day.</p> <p><strong>3. Michael Jackson</strong></p> <p>Three songs from the King of Pop’s posthumous album (Michael)became the focus of <a href="http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/07/01/sony-music-tricked-michael-jackson-fans-buy-fake-cds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">a bizarre lawsuit</span></strong></a> between fan Vera Serova and Sony Music Entertainment. In 2014, Serova became convinced that “Breaking News”, “Monster” and “Keep Your Head Up” were not in fact sung by Jackson, regardless of the credits in the track listings. Serova’s case – a class action which continues to be fought today – cited consumer rights violation – namely that she was misled into purchasing the CD based on the belief all songs would feature the vocals of Jackson.</p> <p><strong>4. Sia</strong></p> <p>The Aussie pop star has fans all over the world, but her follower count took a dive after a 2016 performance in Tel Aviv, Israel for a very odd reason – a lack of banter. Angry fans have <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Sia-target-of-class-action-suit-by-disappointed-Tel-Aviv-concert-goers-464152" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">reportedly</span></strong></a> filed a class action suit against the “Chandelier” singer, complaining that the set lasted just 65 minutes and there was no stage banter between songs. Concertgoers who were unable to see Sia on stage were also disappointed that the screens on the side of the stage were not showing the performance as it happened, but rather a pre-recorded video of the singer and Kristen Wiig. Tickets for the show cost approximately US$91, so we can see why they’re less than thrilled.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Why Channel 10 is suing its former star host

<p>Channel 10 is suing its former political editor, Peter van Onselen, for an alleged breach of contract after he wrote a column tearing into his former employer’s business skills.</p> <p>Anonymous sources told news.com.au that Mr van Onselen signed a non-disparagement clause and received a financial settlement after leaving the network.</p> <p>He had announced he was returning to academia, leaving his daily political news role at Ten in March 2023 after four years. It followed reports he had become tired of the commute from Sydney to Canberra.</p> <p>“I’ve only been doing this for four years ... We sometimes forget the sacrifices they make!” he wrote.</p> <p>It’s believed that the alleged breach of contract that Ten Network has initiated action over relates to that secret clause, which required him not to badmouth the network.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">However, it’s now the court’s decision to decide whether his column — which only referred to publicly available information about the network — constitutes a breach, or whether he should be free to make such observations in his role as commentator.</span></p> <p>In The Australian on May 25, <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia%2Fparamount-woes-raise-questions-about-the-long-term-viability-of-network-10%2Fnews-story%2Fe2dbfb95698c1eca1cb78f0dfd858c22&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-low-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mr van Onselen wrote</a> that Ten’s parent company, Paramount, was unlikely to have a promising future.</p> <p>“Paramount’s share price has plummeted more than 30 per cent in the past month, down more than 50 per cent in just a year,” he wrote.</p> <p>“You could choose to be a little more upbeat about Paramount (and Network 10’s) future if the streaming part of the business was firing, but it’s not.</p> <p>“So what does all of this mean for Network 10? It could be fine, limping along with little attention paid to it by its big overseas owner … Since that time the network’s ratings have slowly ebbed lower and lower, elongating the divide between it and its more successful commercial rivals in Australia.”</p> <p>Mr van Onselen also revealed during his tenure that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian criticised Scott Morrison in private text messages.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Mark Latham sued over homophobic tweet

<p>Mark Latham is being sued by New South Wales independent MP Alex Greenwich, after he failed to apologise for a "disgusting" homophobic tweet. </p> <p>Greenwich said he will initiate defamation proceedings against the One Nation NSW leader in the coming days, after he gave Latham until Thursday May 18th to issue an apology for the tweet against the openly gay member for Sydney. </p> <p>Greenwich confirmed the legal action would proceed after being by Latham's lawyers that he had no intention of apologising. </p> <p><a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/mark-latham-under-fire-over-disgusting-homophobic-tweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Latham's tweet</a> made headlines in March, after the politicians became engaged in a war of words over Twitter when discussing <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">the violent protest at St Michael's Church in Sydney's west, which saw members of the LGBTQIA+ community be attacked by religious extremists. </span></p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">More than a dozen LGBTQIA+ protesters were ambushed by hundreds of men outside an event at the church where Mr Latham spoke about parental rights and religious freedom. </p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">In an article Mr Greenwich called Mr Latham a "disgusting human being" who risks causing a "great deal of damage to our state". </p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Latham was quick to respond on Twitter, saying "That's disgusting?" What about..." followed by a graphic and homophobic comment that OverSixty has chosen not to publish. </p> <p>Greenwich said his decision to take legal action against Latham was something that required much consideration, but something he feels he must do. </p> <p>"This is not a process I enter into lightly, and a process I wish I didn't have to engage in," Greenwich said in a statement.</p> <p>"However, Mr Latham's homophobic, sexualised attack has exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse, based on my sexuality, and demands actions."</p> <p>Greenwich has lodged a complaint of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment against Latham with Anti-Discrimination NSW.</p> <p>He has also made a police complaint against Latham for using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend.</p> <p>"It's 2023 and LGBTQIA+ Australians shouldn't have to put up with abuse that targets our sexuality, character, or ability to do our jobs," Greenwich said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

“Pattern of bigotry”: Pauline Hanson being sued by senator over tweet

<p>Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi has launched legal action against Pauline Hanson over a tweet telling her to "pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan”.</p> <p>Documents filed in the Federal Court on May 3 allege the One Nation leader breached section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act with the tweet in 2022.</p> <p>Faruqi is seeking a sum of $150,000 be donated to a not-for-profit or community organisation of her choice.</p> <p>She also wants Hanson to undertake anti-racism training and pay legal fees.</p> <p>Faruqi revealed in a statement that she had “taken on bullies” her whole life and had no choice but to take on Hanson.</p> <p>"I refuse to let Senator Hanson get away with racist bullying and harassment," she said.</p> <p>"Senator Hanson crossed a line when she tweeted those hateful comments and I am hoping the Federal Court puts an end to this pattern of bigotry.</p> <p>"Not just for me, but for the almost 30 per cent of Australians born overseas, and their next generations.</p> <p>"I shouldn't have to take the personal risk and trauma of taking Senator Hanson to court."</p> <p>In 2022, the Greens attempted to reprimand Hanson in the upper house but the motion was amended by the government and opposition to instead condemn all forms of racism.</p> <p>Hanson defended her comments and denied she is racist.</p> <p>Farqui said she decided to launch proceedings following Hanson’s refusal to apologise for her tweet and her rejection of conciliation attempts from the Australian Human Rights Commission.</p> <p>"Senator Hanson has used her decades in the spotlight and immense public platform to spew vicious hate towards people of colour," Faruqi said.</p> <p>"She has caused incalculable harm and gotten away with it for far too long.</p> <p>"It's time that she was held accountable.</p> <p>"Senator Hanson has been contacted for comment on the court action."</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty/Instagram</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Schumacher’s family suing German magazine over fake interview

<p dir="ltr">Michael Schumacher’s family is preparing to take legal action against German tabloid magazine <em>Die Aktuelle</em>, for publishing an AI-generated “interview” with the star.</p> <p dir="ltr">The publication has been slammed for using Michael’s face on their April 15 front cover, promoting the piece as “the first interview” since the star’s skiing accident in December 2013.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No meagre, nebulous half-sentences from friends. But answers from him! By Michael Schumacher, 54!” read the text in the magazine.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It sounded deceptively real,” they added in the strapline, which was the only indicator that the piece was fake.</p> <p dir="ltr">The “interview” included quotes that insensitively described Schumacher’s recovery, following the accident where he suffered a serious brain injury.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was so badly injured that I lay for months in a kind of artificial coma, because otherwise my body couldn’t have dealt with it all,” the quote read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve had a tough time but the hospital team has managed to bring me back to my family,” they added.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was only at the end of the article that the publication revealed that they used Character.ai, an AI chatbot, to create the interview.</p> <p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for Schumachers confirmed their intention to take legal action against <em>Die Aktuelle</em> to <em>Reuters</em> and <em>ESPN</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">This isn’t the first time Schumacher’s family have taken action against <em>Die Aktuelle</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2015, Michael’s wife, Corinna Schumacher filed a lawsuit against the magazine after they used Corinna’s picture with the headline: “Corinna Schumacher – a new love makes her happy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The story was actually about their daughter, Gina, but the lawsuit was dismissed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

AFL legend Gary Ablett Senior suing for brain damage

<p dir="ltr">An AFL legend is taking legal action against two of his former clubs for injuries he sustained during his career.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gary Ablett Senior is suing both Hawthorn and Geelong football clubs for concussions he suffered that have left him with lasting brain damage, according to a brain scan he underwent last year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ablett claims that the clubs breached their duty of care, as they "knew or ought to have known of the potential long-term consequences of concussion suffered by the plaintiff".</p> <p dir="ltr">His lawyer Michel Margalit said Ablett was dealing with significant health problems as a direct result of his on-field injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He's not doing well. He's had significant illness over the previous years and he's finding that he's struggling more and more as time goes on," she told ABC News Breakfast.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He has really significant medical and care needs, and there are just no funds available through the AFL Players Association or any other hardship fund to assist him with those care needs."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Margalit would not say how much Ablett was seeking but said it was a significant claim.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It is a very substantial case and could be really at the upper range of the allowance permitted by the compensation schemes in Victoria," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This could be multiple millions of dollars."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ablett played his first VFL season with the Hawks in 1982 and was with Geelong for the remaining 13 years of his career, kicking 1,031 goals in his 248 games before retiring in 1996.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

"Most deplorable act of greed": Clive Palmer suing Australia

<p>Clive Palmer is seeking $300 billion in damages from the Australian government over a rejected mine in Western Australia. </p> <p>The mining billionaire's company, Zeph Investments, lodged the lawsuit on Tuesday, which claims Australia owes him around $297 billion in damages, not including interests and costs, </p> <p>The lawsuit claims Australia breached the Asean free trade deal when Western Australia not only rejected Palmer’s massive Pilbara iron ore mining project, but also introduced a law that prevented him from getting any compensation for it, which he claims cost him billions.</p> <p>In order to help make his case, Palmer has enlisted the help of Former federal and WA attorney-general Christian Porter to work for Zeph Investments.</p> <p>The lawsuit has prompted a wave of outrage from WA Premier Mark McGowan, who referred to Palmer as "treacherous", and the "greediest man in Australian history".</p> <p>Answering a question in WA Parliament's Legislative Assembly, Mr McGowan read from a prepared statement.</p> <p>"Today we have seen the most deplorable act of greed in Australian history," Mr McGowan said,</p> <p>"One of the richest people in Australia, Clive Palmer, now wants more money. And he's suing his country to get it."</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the latest legal action would be "vigorously" defended.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"The Commonwealth will work with Western Australia to ensure Australia's interests are protected," he said in a statement.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"As these matters have now become the subject of an investor-state claim, it would not be appropriate to provide further comment at this time."</p> <p>The federal member for Perth, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, said WA residents had been through this before, saying, "No one wants to see another Clive Palmer lawsuit,"</p> <p>"And no Australian wants to see $300 billion of taxpayers' money handed over to Clive Palmer in this absolutely ridiculous lawsuit."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Lawyer sued for ‘quiet quitting’

<p> A legal firm in New York have sued one of its own lawyers, accusing her of using remote work as a way to “quiet quit” while she started a new venture.</p> <p>Quiet quitting is a relatively new term that refers to employees who do nothing above the bare minimum in their role, often leading them to end up on the chopping board. </p> <p>Defendant Heather Palmore then filed a countersuit against Napoli Solnik accusing the firm of mistreating minority employees, “brazen bullying” and seeking to “intimate people who stand up to them”.</p> <p>The lawsuit, which was filed in late February 2023 in a state court, accused Palmore of “breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty, injurious falsehood, unjust enrichment, declaratory judgement and constructive trust”.</p> <p>According to the firm’s lawsuit, Palmore “misrepresented her skill set, experience, and book of business to obtain a position with Napoli Shkolnik, where she took advantage of the new remote work environment to ‘quiet quit’ her job, and simultaneously worked for two law firms at once,”</p> <p>The firm also accused her of “performing little to no work for Napoli Shkolnik while directly competing with the firm by simultaneously running Defendant Palmore Law Group”.</p> <p>Palmore said in her counterclaim that partner Paul Napoli recruited her to be the firm’s chief trial counsel in October 2021.</p> <p>“Ms Palmore has been subjected to and witnessed egregious race and disability discrimination by senior management as part of their standard operating procedures,” she said in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court. </p> <p>Palmore said she agreed to engage in mediation to settle her claims but claimed the firm used the time to “fabricate its own bogus lawsuit to file before Palmore could file her lawsuit — and gain some ill-conceived strategic advantage by filing first”.</p> <p>The firm claims Palmore was never committed to her job and that she established her own company almost as soon as she was hired.</p> <p>“Further, not even one month after defendant Palmore was hired by the plaintiff, defendant Palmore established her own separate law firm, The Palmore Group, PC, which she was operating and marketing while claiming to work on a full-time, attention, and energy basis for the plaintiff,” it said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Prince Harry, Elizabeth Hurley and Elton John suing Daily Mail

<p>Prince Harry, Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley are leading a charge of celebrities and other individuals who have launched legal action against the publisher of the British Daily Mail newspaper over alleged phone-tapping and other breaches of privacy.</p> <p>The group includes the actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, Elton John’s partner and filmmaker David Furnish, and Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993.</p> <p>The individuals are aware of evidence pointing to breaches of privacy by Associated Newspapers, who publish the Daily Mail newspaper, Mail on Sunday and Mail online.</p> <p>The evidence gathered includes recovered listening devices that were placed inside people’s cars and homes as well as commissioning the bugging of live, private telephone calls, law firm Hamlins said in a statement.</p> <p>Prince Harry is just one of the celebrities in question who have a turbulent past with the British tabloids, with Harry and Meghan previously saying they would have “zero engagement” with four major British papers, including the Daily Mail, accusing them of false and invasive coverage.</p> <p>The couple also cited media intrusion as a major factor in their decision to step down from royal duties and move to the United States.</p> <p>Associated Newspapers have refuted any and all allegations against illegal phone-tapping, as a spokesperson said the publisher “utterly and unambiguously” refuted the “preposterous smears”.</p> <p>They said, “These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims - based on no credible evidence - appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Wedding venue sued for millions over "destroying" couple's big day

<p>When Russell and Marjorie Newman spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on their daughter's wedding, they hoped the big day would be perfect. </p><p>However, the fairytale wedding has ended in legal action being taken over the luxurious venue, who the Newman's claim "destroyed" their daughter's day. </p><p>Marjorie and Russell's daughter Jessica married Matt Alovis at the Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel in September 2021, in a night that left Jessica "hysterically crying". </p><p>The Newman's filed a lawsuit in the Brooklyn Supreme Court last week, after the venue failed to disclose a new "severe" noise restriction. </p><p>The lawsuit states that the newlywed's first dance was ruined when the DJ refused to turn the music up, keeping it so low during the celebration that guests could hardly hear it. </p><p>In order to continue dancing, the newlyweds and their 200 wedding guests were allegedly forced to squeeze into a 'dingy' room off-site meant for 60 people. </p><p>"It was very, very devastating," Marjorie, who is also suing their wedding planner, Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira, told the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/02/06/nyc-couples-dream-wedding-destroyed-by-hotels-noise-restriction-5m-suit-claims/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">New York Post</a>.</p><p>"This was supposed to be her night to shine and it was all taken away from her."</p><p>Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel reportedly implemented the noise restriction rule just three weeks before Jessica and Matt's wedding due to residential condos in the building, but the Newman's claim the hotel "never made them aware" of the rule. </p><p>"They never brought us in to say, 'This is what it is going to sound like or not sound like,' they never gave us the opportunity to move the venue," Russell explained. </p><p>The Newmans, who spent $150,000 on flowers alone for the wedding, are demanding $5 million from the hotel and wedding planner for the "destroyed" event caused by a "breach of contract" and the "deceptive concealment of sound restrictions" which resulted in "humiliation, indignity, distress of mind, mental suffering, inconvenience, and physical discomfort," according to the lawsuit.     </p><p>"There were countless hours spent over at least a one year planning period for what should have been a once in a lifetime special event which was single handily destroyed by the egregious actions of the defendants," the lawsuit says. </p><p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Police sued in $1million William Tyrrell twist

<p><em>Image: NSW Police </em></p> <p>The William Tyrrell case has taken another turn with reports emerging that NSW police have been sued by a man wrongly accused over the toddler’s disappearance.</p> <p>Sky news Political Editor Andrew Clennell on Sunday said the “wrongly accused” man received a payout of about half-a-million dollars from NSW Police, and that together with added legal costs the total sum paid out by police reportedly reached $1 million.</p> <p>“There are fears another wrongly accused suspect, who was the subject of accusations when [former lead detective] Gary Jubelin was in charge of the case, might also sue NSW Police,” he said.</p> <p>William remains missing with NSW Police now well into a renewed search. Investigators are expecting to find the toddler’s body in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast where he disappeared in 2014.</p> <p>Police on over the weekend took a hessian bag from the scene with at least two additional pieces of fabric placed in evidence bags and sent off for forensic testing.</p> <p>Elements of the search are expected to be subterranean, and it could be a matter of weeks or months before it comes to a conclusion, with police having so far scoured just 10-20% of the area.</p> <p>A $1 million reward also remains in place for anyone with information leading to a conviction.</p> <p>Last week, William Tyrrell’s foster parents were charged with an unrelated assault as part of the task force’s ongoing investigations and are due to face Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday.</p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Linda Evangelista suing over "disfiguring" surgery

<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>Linda Evangelista has made a startling claim about a cosmetic procedure which she said left her “brutally disfigured”.</p> <p>The Canadian supermodel, who rose to prominence in the 1990s, took to Instagram on Thursday to explain the reason she hasn’t been working in the industry is allegedly due to the shocking effects of a fat freezing service.</p> <p>She also revealed she is planning legal action against the company involve.</p> <p>“To my followers who have wondered why I have not been working while my peers’ careers have been thriving, the reason is that when I was brutally disfigured by Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting procedure which did the opposite of what it promised,” Evangelista claimed in her post.</p> <p>“It increased, not decreased, my fat cells and left me permanently deformed even after undergoing two painful, unsuccessful, corrective surgeries.”</p> <p>The 56-year-old said as a result she has developed paradoxical adipose hyperplasia or PAH, a risk she claims she wasn’t made aware of before she had the procedure.</p> <p>“PAH has not only destroyed my livelihood, but it has also sent me into a cycle of deep depression, profound sadness, and the lowest depths of self-loathing,” she said.</p> <p>“In the process, I have become a recluse.”</p> <p>Evangelista, who has been featured on more than 700 magazine covers over her career and is one of the most accomplished models of all time, she said she kept the health battle a secret for more than five years.</p> <p>“Today I took a big step towards righting a wrong that I have suffered and have kept to myself for over five years”. It is unclear if the lawsuit has already been filled.</p> <p>“I’m so tired of living this way. I would like to walk out my door with my head held high, despite not looking like myself any longer,” she wrote.</p> <p>PAH has been reported as a rare complication after cryolipolysis (fat freezing).</p> <p>It’s when the treated area becomes larger rather than smaller in the weeks after the procedure, leaving a “painless, visibly enlarged, firm, well-demarcated mass” under the skin.</p> <p>“Based on the data from the manufacturer of the crylipolysis equipment, PAH has been estimated to occur in one out of every 4000 treatment cycles, for an incidence of 0.025 per cent,” a report in Science Daily stated.</p> <p>PAH can be treated with liposuction, but patients must wait a few months before treatment, the report explains.</p> <p>“Surgeons must be extremely sensitive when dealing with patients who have PAH, both when explaining the problem and when offering them a potential surgical solution.”</p> <p>At this stage, Evangelista hasn’t shed any more details about the procedure, except that it left her “looking unrecognisable.”</p> <p>The former model, who captioned the post with hashtags ‘the truth’ and ‘mystery’, left her almost one million Instagram followers in shock after revealing what had allegedly happened.</p> <p>“Dearest wonderful Linda I am so sorry to hear this! I love you and respect you beyond words!” one fan wrote.</p> <p>“You are the greatest icon, forever beautiful from the inside out. We are all here to support you and love you,” said model Carolyn Murphy.</p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Dr Kerry Chant and Brad Hazzard sued over mandatory jabs

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A lawsuit has been filed in the NSW Supreme Court in response to mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements for some NSW professions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sydney solicitor Tony Nikolic - who previously represented the protestor accused with punching a horse at Sydney’s anti-lockdown march - has filed the suit against Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, with the matter expected to be heard on Friday, August 3.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Law firm Ashley, Francina, Leonard and Associates argues that the public health orders requiring “a broad class of workers” to be vaccinated is illegal and unconstitutional.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The firm also argues that the additional powers granted to police to enforce public health orders during the most recent lockdown are illegal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We have received thousands of inquiries from front-line workers - police, paramedics, nurses, aged care [staff], doctors, firefighters - construction workers, teachers, airline staff, miners, truck drivers, university students, mums and dads and, importantly, employers,” a spokesperson said in a statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is our view that vaccine compulsion strips citizens of their basic human rights, including their right to work, their right to bodily integrity and their right to informed consent to medical treatment without coercion.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The suit seeks a declaration that the NSW public health orders are invalid, as well as a ban on any further orders made by Mr Hazzard and Dr Chant.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“No-one is above the law, including ministers and public health officers.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Nikolic has advertised for plaintiffs to join the suit via the firm’s website and the social media platform Telegram, which has also been used to organise and incite anti-lockdown protests across Australia.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nikolic posted to Telegram on Saturday, praising politicians such as Craig Kelly, Reverend Fred Nile, and Pauline Hanson for their opposition to lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You are born free, free to choose, freedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of bodily integrity - don’t give it away for free,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Don’t be bullied.”</span></p> <p><strong>Is it illegal?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to an </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/215/1/medico-legal-considerations-mandatory-covid-19-vaccination-high-risk-workers" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">article</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> published in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Medical Journal of Australia</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by Dr Dev Kevat and colleagues from several Melbourne health institutions, Australian employers could mandate vaccination of high-risk workers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Such a direction may well be lawful and reasonable, excepting for those with relevant medical exemptions, for whom low risk roles must be sought if possible,” Kevat and his colleagues wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, this would vary state to state, based on their legislation.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

The now grown up baby from Nirvana's album cover is suing the band

<p>The baby who appeared on the famous Nirvana album cover in 1991 is now suing the band.</p> <p>Spencer Elden, who is now 30 years old, is suing surviving Nirvana band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, as well as Kurt Cobain's estate for allegedly <span>violating federal child pornography statutes and child sexual exploitation.</span></p> <p><span>The </span>lawsuit also names the photographer who snapped the image, Kirk Weddlem and the labels behind the release fo the album.</p> <p><span>Spencer was photographed naked as a child for the band's most </span>iconic album cover, and is now claiming <span>his legal guardians never signed a release “authorising the use of any images of Spencer or of his likeness, and certainly not of commercial child pornography depicting him.”</span></p> <p>Spencer claims he has <span>suffered “lifelong damages” and is also suing for distribution of private sexually explicit materials and negligence. </span></p> <p><span>The famous album cover was snapped by chance, as Spencer's father Rick was a good friend of the photographer.</span></p> <p><span>Nick spoke to NPR in 2008 and said, “[Weddle] calls us up and was like, ‘Hey Rick, wanna make 200 bucks and throw your kid in the drink.”</span></p> <p><span>The image, which shows a baby Spencer in the pool diving after a $1 note, quickly became an iconic image and Spencer has recreated the album cover several times to celebrate </span>anniversaries of the release. </p> <p>The lawsuit filed by Spencer states, <span>“The permanent harm he has proximately suffered includes but is not limited to extreme and permanent emotional distress with physical manifestations, interference with his normal development and educational progress, lifelong loss of income earning capacity, loss of past and future wages, past and future expenses for medical and psychological treatment, loss of enjoyment of life, and other losses to be described and proven at trial of this matter.”</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Bob Dylan sued for alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old, denies claims

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A woman has filed a suit against folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, alleging he gave her drugs and alcohol before sexually abusing her in 1965 when she was 12 years old.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The civil lawsuit, filed late on Friday with the New York Supreme Court, said Dylan sexually abused the plaintiff, identified only as JC, at his New York apartment over a six-week period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The woman, now 68 years old, claimed in the suit that the assault has left “her emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged to this day”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The suit alleges Dylan established an “emotional connection” with the plaintiff to “lower [J.C.’s] inhibitions with the object of sexually abusing her, which he did, coupled with the provision of drugs, alcohol and threats of physical violence”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The suit claims that the emotional fallout - including depression, humiliation, and anxiety - are of “permanent and lasting natures” and have prevented the plaintiff “from attending her regular activities”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">J.C. has brought allegations of assault, battery, false imprisonment and emotional distress against Dylan, who was in his mid-20s at the time, and is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The complaint speaks for itself,” J.C.’s lawyer Daniel Isaacs said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She provided a lot of detailed information regarding the time in question that leaves no doubt that she was with him in the apartment during the time in question.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Isaacs also noted that he was able to verify the details in J.C.’s claim with the “best available research”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dylan, now 80, denies claims in the lawsuit that he “exploited his status as a musician” to abuse her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This 56-year-old claim is untrue and will be vigorously defended,” Dylan’s spokesman said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The lawsuit was submitted just before the closure of the New York Child Victims’ Act look-back window, which has allowed victims of childhood sexual abuse to file legal claims that were previously too old to pursue due to a statute of limitations.</span></p>

Legal

Our Partners