Can material prepared for family law proceedings be used by the Police?
by Rose Laffan
Rose Laffan is a Senior Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and practises extensively in Family, Relationship and Matrimonial Law
In the recent case of Sahadi and Savva the mother and father were involved in family law proceedings against each other and they were also both accused of serious criminal charges.
The trial judge had granted an application by the Commissioner of Police to release a report prepared in family law proceedings to the Police and others. The mother appealed that decision. Read the rest of this entry »
Security of Payments Act – How can it help you?
by Lachlan Page
Lachlan Page is a Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay and is part of our Commercial, Property & Estates Law team.
If your business provides goods or services in the Building & Construction Industry and you are not aware of the Building & Construction Industry Security of Payments Act 1999 NSW (‘the SOP Act“), you could be missing out!
The SOP Act provides an unparalleled regime that can either be very beneficial or extremely brutal depending on your understanding of the SOP Act and how you utilise its provisions. It is designed to increase cash flow within the building and construction industry and, if utilised correctly, can drastically minimise lengthy disputes and increase your ability to recover monies owed. Read the rest of this entry »
Don’t vent your spleen on Facebook
Tony Cavanagh is a Director at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in commercial dispute resolution & litigation, and employment law.
A report from the UK illustrates one of the many dangers of Facebook and social media generally. Judge Beverley Lunt sentenced two brothers to suspended prison terms of 2 years following their convictions for selling cannabis. Within 90 minutes both brothers had posted comments on their respective Facebook pages that were, to say the least, disrespectful to the sentencing Judge. She was identified by name. Read the rest of this entry »
Court costs – when do they not “follow the event”?
Tony Cavanagh is a Director at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in commercial dispute resolution & litigation, and employment law.
Most of us are familiar with the expression “costs follow the event”; that is, in a litigated claim the loser usually is ordered to pay the winner’s costs. In some circumstances that rule can be varied. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) recently dealt with an application to vary, based on two specific grounds.
A dentist was charged with, but acquitted of (under mental health legislation) indecent assaults against a patient. However the same facts resulted in disciplinary proceedings against him by the Health Care Complaints Commission. There was a finding of professional misconduct; and a declaration that, had the dentist not otherwise ceased to be registered, his registration would have been cancelled for a period of 18 months. The HCCC had sought a cancellation for 2 – 3 years. Read the rest of this entry »