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Capital Brief: Disconnect Discord

The Right to Disconnect law came into effect in August inevitably brought questions to the legal industry, particularly the implications on law firms.

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A Failure to Consult: The Fair Work Commission...

Making logical changes to workplace processes should be simple and straight forward. However, a recent decision of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) confirms that employers still need to make sure they follow the additional step of proper employee consultation, or risk a poor outcome in the Commission. This means managers need to ensure employees' feedback has not only been sought, but also be able to demonstrate how employee feedback has influenced the process and been accounted for in the final outcome(s).  

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Firm News

Hicksons recognised in Doyle’s Guide 2024

We are delighted to be recognised as a leading law firm in the 2024 Doyle’s Guide across the following categories:

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Reasonably perfect – an occupier’s duty of reasonable care

Reasonably perfect – an occupier’s duty of reasonable care

Proceedings in the District Court of NSW against Woolworths Limited as the operator and occupier of the supermarket, claiming damages for injuries sustained.
Blog
What Limitations Apply to Liability Policies

What Limitations Apply to Liability Policies

Does a wrongful act have to be inadvertent? What is the scope of the contractual liability exclusion?
Blog
The abolition of the limitation period for child sexual abuse claims

The abolition of the limitation period for child sexual abuse claims

A perpetrator of child sexual abuse can stay a claim in circumstances where the perpetrator can establish “sufficiently exceptional” prejudice. In the historical abuse context this is not so difficult.
Blog
What is the product of a product definition?

What is the product of a product definition?

A recent decision of the Supreme Court of Queensland restricts the definition of “product” in a liability policy.
Blog
The Importance of Document Retention

The Importance of Document Retention

The defence of liability claims is enhanced by good document management practices by insurers and their insureds.

  • 27 Mar 2017

Blog
Phantom of the Opera

Phantom of the Opera

Insurers are sometimes encouraged to refuse claims when an insured gives false answers to an investigator.  Great care needs to be taken to look at the answers in the context of all the evidence.  Proving that the answers are false is not sufficient.  It has to be proved that the answers are knowingly false and made to induce payment.  This is not an easy burden.  The insurer need to ask itself, among other things: are the answers in fact false;  is there an interpretation to the answers which may favour the insured;  even if the answer is false, could the insured be given the benefit of the doubt by finding that the insured was merely mistaken;  has the insured otherwise acted in a fashion more consistent with honesty (e.g. as in the following case, giving the insurer, by means of authorities etc, access to the accurate information despite the insured’s answer being wrong).
Blog
Recklessness Revisited

Recklessness Revisited

The Courts are mindful that a liability insurance policy must have business efficacy, however, there are limits, and recklessness that goes beyond mere negligence is often sought to be excluded via policy terms and conditions.
Blog
Remain, Reform or Repeal?

Remain, Reform or Repeal?

The NSW Law Reform Commission’s review of section 6 the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW).

  • 17 Nov 2016

Blog
Road collapse – Council not liable despite roadworks

Road collapse – Council not liable despite roadworks

In Mansfield v Great Lakes Council (2016) NSWCA 204 (‘Mansfield’s case’) the plaintiff was driving a truck along a single lane country road when, as he drove across a culvert, the bank of the left side of the road gave way and the truck rolled over. 

  • 24 Oct 2016

Blog
Throwing out the rubbish on exclusion clauses

Throwing out the rubbish on exclusion clauses

Penrith City Council v Healey; GIO General Ltd v Healey [2016] NSWCA 161 related to a claim commenced by Mr Healey against Penrith City Council (‘the Council’) and GIO General Ltd (‘GIO’), as the public insurer of Usshers Pty Ltd (‘Usshers’) (now deregistered), in relation to a shoulder injury suffered during the course of his employment as a garbage collector. 
Blog
Prove it or lose it

Prove it or lose it

In this recent NSW Court of Appeal decision, an employer escaped liability for an injury allegedly suffered by a worker in the course of his employment as a trade’s assistant. The worker allegedly suffered a severe aggravation of a pre-existing injury when, while holding a beam that was being cut, the beam fell unexpectedly towards him.
Blog
Section 5K goes pro!

Section 5K goes pro!

On 29 June 2009, 2 professional jockeys were involved in a riding accident during a professional horserace at Queanbeyan.  Mr Goode was riding a horse named Shot of the Rails and Mr Angland was riding Port Gallery.
Blog
Keep a Watch on What the Policy Covers

Keep a Watch on What the Policy Covers

In Kalloghlian v Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Ltd [2016] NSWSC 902, an insured made a claim under a contents policy for a lost Rolex watch.  The insurer rejected the claim and the insured commenced proceedings in Local Court.  The magistrate found in favour of the insurer. The insured appealed to the NSW Supreme Court asserting an error of law.
Blog
Plaintiff loses shopping trolley collision claim

Plaintiff loses shopping trolley collision claim

Vincent v Woolworths Ltd [2016] NSWCA 40 relates to a claim brought by Ms Vincent (plaintiff) in respect to injuries sustained when she stepped backwards off a small safety step ladder in a Woolworths Supermarket and collided with a shopping trolley being pushed by a customer.
Blog
Child ran over and seriously injured by family’s ride-on mower

Child ran over and seriously injured by family’s ride-on mower

The Court of Appeal of Western Australia has weathered a storm of creative arguments to hold that “normally living” at a residence, within the meaning of an exclusion clause (in home insurance liability cover), is not an ‘act’ within the meaning, or attracting the operation, of section 54(1) of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth)(ICA).

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