Can I still make a dust disease claim if I smoke?
The Australian Work Exposures Study found that 6.6% of the entire working population in Australia has been exposed to dust containing respirable crystalline silica. This is just one of the many harmful dust particles that can cause chronic lung conditions. (The others include asbestos, bagasse, cotton, hay and straw and any dust from cutting or […]
What are the symptoms of silicosis?
If you work in an industry where you're frequently exposed to dust or other harmful particles, there's a chance you could be getting sick from what you're breathing in. Do you have symptoms of respiratory illness like a cough or a scratchy-feeling throat, but are unsure of what you could be suffering from? One common […]
The curious case of the Bob Hawke estate dispute
Wills have long since been a source of family drama – and when that family is in the limelight of fame, the disputes get even more explosive. Foundation of the case The daughter of former PM and Labor leader Bob Hawke is suing her late father’s widow for more than the will granted her. Rosslyn […]
Silicosis cases in Australia spike
The trend towards engineered stone kitchen and bathroom benchtops has seen thousands of Australian workers exposed to unsafe quantities of silica in the past ten years. It has been reported that the number of silicosis cases in Australia exceeded 350 before the end of 2019. Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling unsafe levels of silica […]
Rosslyn Dillon estate claim update
The youngest daughter of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke has specified her monetary demands in regard to an ongoing dispute against her father’s estate, initiated last year after his passing in May. The New Daily reported in December 2019 that Rosslyn Dillon had demanded in a legal claim that she receive a total of $4.2 […]
Grundy widow must produce medical records to prove Will legitimate
Carolyn Joy Chambers-Grundy, widow of deceased Australian TV magnate Reg Grundy, has been ordered by the New South Wales Supreme Court to produce the medical records of her late husband. This comes after Reg Grundy’s estranged only child, Viola La Valette, called into question the legitimacy of her father’s Will. Background of the case La […]
Nickel mogul leaves Will unsigned, estate in flux
Millie Phillips, who was at one time the richest woman in Australia, now lives in a Rose Bay nursing home, but she was rendered incapacitated by a stroke. However, before this bad turn, she never got around to signing her Will, leaving the future of her estate uncertain. What is the situation? Phillips’ children, who […]
Could you receive an interim distribution on a will?
Execution of wills can take a very, very long time. If you’re a beneficiary, you may not have the luxury of waiting for an inheritance to be sorted. What recourse do you have? A recent Australian case – Angius v Salier – reveals how interim distribution might help. What is an executor, and what are […]
Battle over famous author’s Will results in win for widower
Estates of artists and authors, especially if large, can cause disputes over what was meant in the Will and how to deal with the property. These disagreements can be further escalated by media coverage. In a recent case before the Supreme Court in New South Wales, a renowned Australian author’s widower fought against claims that the […]
Widow fights for compensation after husband dies of asbestosis
A woman whose husband developed asbestosis and lung cancer as a result of inhaling asbestos during his employment as a boilermaker in NSW is continuing to fight for compensation in the wake of her spouse's death. Her husband died in 2015 aged 79, and the Workers Compensation (Dust Diseases) Authority acknowledged that a Medical Assessment […]
