In a decision handed down by the NSW Court of Appeal on 16th February 2012 in Allianx Australia Insurance -v- Kerr;

the Court found that the injured person required someone to provide two hours of cleaning per week inside her home and two hours for external work, making a total of four hours of unpaid care each week.

In this case, the main provider of gratuitous assistance was a long-term friend, but not a family member.  He had no legal obligation to provide the assistance, or to continue doing it.

The Court determined that where the main provider of gratuitous assistance is not a family member, the Court does not have to find that he would stop doing it, and that domestic assistance would only be provided by a paid carer in the future, before making an allowance of damages for future domestic assistance on a commercial basis.

Before the November 2011 changes, the Police would top up your workers compensation benefits, so that you would receive 100% of your usual salary up until the time you are medically discharged.

Now, the police will top up your salary to 100% of the usual rate for a maximum of 9 months from the date of injury. Although the Insurance Policy has not yet been released, it appears that the new TPD/PPD scheme will provide further top-up payments, so that you get topped up to 75% of your usual salary for a period of up to 5 years after discharge from the Police Force.

There are very substantial changes to the TPD/PPD lump sum payouts. A 40 year old officer discharged HOD will get about $200,000 less, under the new TPD payment scheme.

In 2008 and 2009 I was part of a group of 50 cyclists that raised about $12,000 each year for Biala Special School, which provides disability support services for school-aged children in Ballina.

Usually, the ride is split up into three goups of between 10-20, depdending on riding ability.  We have quite a few 70+ cyclists as well as a few super-fit triathletes.

Over the last two years a couple of cyclists working for Leighton Constructions on the Ballina Bypass have hit up all of the tradesmen and suppliers working on the Bypass and have managed to raise $7,000 in 2010 and $12,000 in 2011.  In 2010, Camp Quality has received just under $20,000 and this year that figure went up to $27,000.  The great thing about Camp Quality is that the funds are spent locally, supporting local families who have a child suffering cancer.

Whilst cycling for three days, up mountains and through crazy magpies sounds like its hard, there’s plenty of Mrs Gibson’s cream cakes and pies to enjoy during the day, and more than one cold beer each night.  The aim is to lose a bit of weight during the day and do your best to put it back on again each night.

I am grateful for the donations of clients, business contacts, barristers and friends who helped me to become the biggest single contributor each year.

Our new address is 4/26-54 River Street Ballina NSW 2478.

At Bourke Love Lawyers, all we do is take on insurance companies for our clients. And we like to win. We are the only dedicated compensation lawyers on the North Coast of NSW and we live right here in the community with you. Read more about us.

The staff at Bourke Love are understanding, empathetic and straight-talking local lawyers who will advise you straight away about your rights to compensation and your chance of success. Contact us today if you think you may have a claim.