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Contempt of the Court: picket fence display scandalising officers of the court 27.10.20 The recent case of Attorney-General (Qld) v Mathews [2020] recognises the strict legal consequences arising from actions which undermine public confidence in the judicial system.

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COVID-19: Can I get an exemption to travel overseas? 06.10.20 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Australian Government has imposed substantial restrictions on travel to and from Australia, leaving individuals increasingly confused and apprehensive about the prospect of international travel. That said, some exemptions apply to facilitate travel.

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Google business reviews: Potential defamation payout 28.09.20 Harmful Google reviews are a common situation many businesses are faced with across all sectors, causing reputational damage. When a false review is posted, businesses will usually request that Google remove the review which often involves delay and may be ineffective. As a result of Google’s failure remove false reviews about a business, where reputational damage can be proven, there may be a potential claim in defamation.

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Freezing Order to Preserve Assets Denied - Ramsden Lawyers
Changes to the Australian Citizenship Test 25.09.20 In a recent announcement the Acting Minister for Immigration has announced changes to the Australian Citizenship Test to come into effect 15 November 2020, requiring potential citizens to understand and commit to certain Australian values.

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Defamation battle: an emoji is worth a thousand words 18.09.20 Burrows v Houda [2020] is a timely reminder to think before hitting post when making comments via social media. Even something as simple as an emoticon can have wide reaching imputations which gives rise to potential claims of defamation.

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Insurance claim for incomplete construction work denied 11.09.20 Homeowners must take care when terminating residential building contracts if they want to make an insurance claim under the QBCC Act. Allen & Taylor v QBCC is an instance where an insurance claim for incomplete construction works was denied on the basis that the contract was unlawfully terminated.

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New Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List: COVID-19 recovery plan 04.09.20 As COVID-19 continues to impact Australia, the Acting Minister for Immigration has announced that there are 17 occupations in a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List. Health care, IT and construction sectors are high on the priority list.

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Defamation case: Geoffrey Rush awarded historical amount in special damages 03.09.20 On 2 July 2020, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia awarded the largest sum in a defamation case regarding a single individual in Australian history. The monumental award of damages was proportionate to the emotional and reputational harm suffered by Geoffrey Rush. This was assessed based on the loss of employment opportunities in the film industry due to defamatory comments made by Nationwide News.

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Property Settlement Entitlements: Is my spouse, or is my spouse not, entitled to an adjustment of my property interests, that is the question. 28.08.20 The recent case of Grady & Chilcott (2020) serves as a timely reminder that the circumstances of every relationship is different, and a longer relationship will not necessarily entitle someone to a share of their partner’s assets.

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Agent commission denied: Difficulties with conjunction agreements 20.08.20 The recent District Court of Queensland case of Equity 2 Pty Ltd v Best Price Real Estate Pty Ltd [2020] QDC 180 highlights that a lack of understanding when it comes to contract terms could cost real estate agents their agent commission.

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Freezing Order to Preserve Assets Denied - Ramsden Lawyers
Freezing Order to Preserve Assets Denied: “Not Better Late than Never” 12.08.20 BluePoint Property Pty Ltd v Zuri Properties Pty Ltd is a timely reminder that applications for a freezing order must be made quickly and often without notice to the other side. Where a plaintiff delays applying for freezing order, the defendant can take irrevocable steps which will ultimately prevent their ability to satisfy any judgment they obtain.

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Construction Contract Dispute: Knowledge equals liability 07.08.20 In Somerset Civil Pty Ltd v Sugarbag Road Pty Ltd the Court left open the possibility that a principal may be liable to pay their builder where it knows (or ought to have known) that the builder was unlicensed. This is despite unlicensed work being unlawful under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991.

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