News & Publications

Congratulations to Nick Polin SC for being recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel in New South Wales, 2024

4 Wentworth Chambers congratulates Brian Dooley SC, Greg Hickey and Misha Hammond for being recognised in Doyle’s Guide as Leading and Recommended Insurance Law practitioners in New South Wales, 2024.

Congratulations to Michael Spartalis who has been recognised in Doyle's Guide as one of New South Wales' Leading Mediators, 2024.

"ASIC v Kobelt: An Illustration of the Problems in Applying Community Values in Novel Situations" [2021] UNSWLawSocCConsc 9; (2021) 15 UNSW Law Society Court of Conscience 59 by Kavita Balendra.

 

Cases of Note

Smith v M & F Hames Pty Ltd [2022] NSWPICMP 3: Misha Hammond succeeded in this MAC appeal. The case highlights the process on how to correctly identify the terms of a referral to a medical assessor in the Personal Injury Commission; when to use Chapter 8 of AMA V rather than the TEMSKI scale for scarring; and the correct assessment of spinal fractures using the DRE method.

Darma v Claremont Connections Pty Limited [2021] NSWDC 509 (24 September 2021): Kavita Balendra successfully appeared for the Defendant - Bullying and Harassment – psychiatric injury – credit.

Brockhurst v Rawlings [2021] QSC 217: Brian Dooley SC - Sexual Abuse - 13 year old student and 31 year old Female teacher. Highest award of damages in Queensland in sexual abuse case.

Addison v BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] NSWSC 1031: Brian Dooley SC - NSW court applying WA law for assessment of general damages, correct approach. Use of medico-legal psychometric testing to establish feigning requires much more, including other explanations that may be available [104]. The benefits of a successful cross- examination [36].

MetLife Insurance Limited v Sandstrom [2021] NSWCA 123: Brian Dooley SC appeared for a former police officer, as the respondent, in the NSW Court of Appeal in respect to a TPD claim. The appeal was dismissed. 

Hrdavec v State of New South Wales [2021] NSWSC 560: Michael Spartalis successfully defended a claim for malicious prosecution and wrongful detention brought against the State of New South Wales.

Stewart v State of New South Wales (NSW Police Force) [2021] NSWPIC 133: Misha Hammond was successful in obtaining dual entitlements to weekly compensation for an emergency services worker who exited the NSW Police Force with both physical and psychiatric injuries.

McAlister v SAS Trustee Corporation [2020] NSWDC 896: Misha Hammond was successful in securing an increase in superannuation entitlements on behalf of an injured former police officer.