tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55383462457076174982024-02-03T07:21:42.688+10:00Brisbane River Floods 2011 - Greater Goodna Flood GroupInformation for victims of the Brisbane and Bremer River floods at Goodna, Gailes, Redbank, Ipswich and Brisbane on 11 January 2011 as well as the Queensland Floods Commission reports and information for flood victims who have joined the class action by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers to recover their flood losses.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-91208302017180949792016-01-11T20:54:00.004+10:002016-01-11T20:54:21.811+10:005 years on: Call for state government to settle flood class action out-of-court<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzZ2ujGaO9hyphenhyphenP-vyDJBlcKeBZl3UQ11X9PPqbareV9CB_MUesysHglJxT35T6gZOk2hEVdb7Dn6hvLQU_hjR2sTPiOf5rd2MIIDCmIXZ5Cav3tUfoVPFROb1pyirt_T6_P7ssZ0kls2U/s1600/Brisbane+River+Flood+2011+Parker+St+Goodna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzZ2ujGaO9hyphenhyphenP-vyDJBlcKeBZl3UQ11X9PPqbareV9CB_MUesysHglJxT35T6gZOk2hEVdb7Dn6hvLQU_hjR2sTPiOf5rd2MIIDCmIXZ5Cav3tUfoVPFROb1pyirt_T6_P7ssZ0kls2U/s200/Brisbane+River+Flood+2011+Parker+St+Goodna.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV1wltIepUaEA1sLfURsrE5GeNrBP1ksADwwduVpdcbFb3mBBfuBsiASEiiPSA1dFdPDNu1r6Pz9jyrcRpNUup0qZgau8W9u7tWr7Z8KhPg7TRjxckURSlSSRnVoJ-dyuKhyj3NpA1m0/s1600/Gailes+Caravan+Park+-+in+the+aftermath+of+the+Brisbane+River+Flood+of+11+January+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV1wltIepUaEA1sLfURsrE5GeNrBP1ksADwwduVpdcbFb3mBBfuBsiASEiiPSA1dFdPDNu1r6Pz9jyrcRpNUup0qZgau8W9u7tWr7Z8KhPg7TRjxckURSlSSRnVoJ-dyuKhyj3NpA1m0/s200/Gailes+Caravan+Park+-+in+the+aftermath+of+the+Brisbane+River+Flood+of+11+January+2011.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8f5mUFZJsYjLHAHJlkznVjr1gEl50YtdejUoo2UCjCbSjD_gVQHb4Kh-lUIlFxKCr8KTu8GDsKYaw9unx_ykhOc5dj-pjUG3OnJlz-E9CcehmCDrA5strqg1i0a899n5GbU8DLXJ2Ig/s1600/Goodna+Flood+12+January+2011+looking+east+from+Barram+St+Goodna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8f5mUFZJsYjLHAHJlkznVjr1gEl50YtdejUoo2UCjCbSjD_gVQHb4Kh-lUIlFxKCr8KTu8GDsKYaw9unx_ykhOc5dj-pjUG3OnJlz-E9CcehmCDrA5strqg1i0a899n5GbU8DLXJ2Ig/s200/Goodna+Flood+12+January+2011+looking+east+from+Barram+St+Goodna.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcg6gVmLbg2-WMW2WVcVxrmK8z9WuO3ejayxqJZ5q8ILHEq236ttZTClB-Hzp4TuHzfbf_tnC5dAE1b0SvPoBfZZeLgwGlKnT4Mz1A1Jl6-zR5kNnCre24DIjCJtZH-lqbuOMqllNea8/s1600/Goodna+Pillar+of+Courager+%2526+Flood+Marker+unveiled+11+January+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcg6gVmLbg2-WMW2WVcVxrmK8z9WuO3ejayxqJZ5q8ILHEq236ttZTClB-Hzp4TuHzfbf_tnC5dAE1b0SvPoBfZZeLgwGlKnT4Mz1A1Jl6-zR5kNnCre24DIjCJtZH-lqbuOMqllNea8/s200/Goodna+Pillar+of+Courager+%2526+Flood+Marker+unveiled+11+January+2012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuoKXrsFKXvDt8jcNC69proRGP_eI6-mD5VpqK2jQPzIEFcSNENvxN-RtNxtu3Mh9wDY39uYZI_PkkwVqRQw1Octc7mBjLieCDR0AZwJ-AKWt0FeNO0Zs-IMBPVQyy3HZICUqg9KkTnU/s1600/Goodna+Meeting+Flood+Victims+19.3.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuoKXrsFKXvDt8jcNC69proRGP_eI6-mD5VpqK2jQPzIEFcSNENvxN-RtNxtu3Mh9wDY39uYZI_PkkwVqRQw1Octc7mBjLieCDR0AZwJ-AKWt0FeNO0Zs-IMBPVQyy3HZICUqg9KkTnU/s200/Goodna+Meeting+Flood+Victims+19.3.2012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsjS_olYSF9cC2o6UrEqTH86Q1rK-YfD1MJWn9NxhF2z0yhxu7f2i9ocA_lXhgOBxxmS2rMqKl1BUcLbHbG3MoP0WT0CA1TJMnd8Iw957OdklRL1dy97w8b66N4t9t8-BignI__QfIJs/s1600/Brisbane+River+Flood+at+Goodna+January+2011+showing+Ipswich+Motorway..jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsjS_olYSF9cC2o6UrEqTH86Q1rK-YfD1MJWn9NxhF2z0yhxu7f2i9ocA_lXhgOBxxmS2rMqKl1BUcLbHbG3MoP0WT0CA1TJMnd8Iw957OdklRL1dy97w8b66N4t9t8-BignI__QfIJs/s200/Brisbane+River+Flood+at+Goodna+January+2011+showing+Ipswich+Motorway..jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
MEDIA RELEASE – IPSWICH CITY COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY <br /><br />An emotional call has been made on the 5th anniversary of the 2011 flood for the state government and Seqwater to settle the billion dollar flood class action without the need for expensive court hearings “where the only real winners will be the lawyers”.<br /><br />The class action was commenced in the NSW Supreme Court in 2014 by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers on behalf of over 5000 flood victims in southeast Queensland.<br /><br />In 2012 when the report of the Floods Commission of Inquiry was handed down both the government and opposition said they would act as model litigants in the event of a class action.<br /><br />Ipswich councillor Paul Tully, a victim of the flood, said the claimants have recently had their case delayed until at least 2017 by a judge in Sydney.<br /><br />Cr Tully said it could be 10 years after the flood before a decision was made with an appeal to the High Court possible by the losing party.<br /><br />“These are real people still suffering financially and emotionally and any further delays are totally unacceptable.<br /><br />“Flood victims deserve a prompt settlement of their claims without the need for expensive courtroom litigation where the only real winners will be the lawyers.”<br /><br />Cr Tully urged the state government and Seqwater to look for a way to settle the class action without any further prevarication or delay.<br /><br />“The battlers who lost everything in the flood don’t care about self-serving claims of innocence by Seqwater or technical legal defences by their lawyers.<br /><br />“All they want is a fair go with proper compensation so they can finally move on with their lives,” Cr Tully said.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-70588353255628717092014-11-26T15:57:00.001+10:002014-11-26T15:57:13.496+10:00State Government finally concedes 2011 Wivenhoe Dam strategy was wrong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-right: 13px;" valign="bottom" width="95"><img alt="Coat of Arms" src="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Content/Image?statementId=87316&url=CoatOfArms.png" /></td><td width="100%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 3px; padding-top: 20px;"><img alt="Media Release" src="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Content/Images/MediaRelease.png" /></td></tr>
<tr><td><h3 style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">
Minister for Energy and Water Supply<br />The Honourable Mark McArdle</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-top: 15px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New dam strategies to protect Queensland homes</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">Hundreds of families in Brisbane and Ipswich could be spared the heartache of watching their homes devastated by floods thanks to improved management of the south east’s dams.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle today released new operational strategies for the Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams to minimise possible flooding ahead of the summer wet season.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“There is no question the region will see major flooding in the future and the Newman LNP Government is committed to doing everything it can to improve our resilience to natural disasters,” Mr McArdle said.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The government’s strong 30 year plan for the water sector – <em>WaterQ</em> – recognises the challenges we face from climate variability and natural disasters, such as floods and drought.”</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In simple terms, the strategies allow more storage space in the dams to better cope with flood waters.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In the case of Wivenhoe Dam, more water will be released earlier to minimise flooding.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“This could mean about 500 to 1,500 fewer buildings in Brisbane and Ipswich would be flooded in a repeat of the 2011 flood.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“At North Pine Dam the maximum water supply storage will be set at 90 per cent for up to 20 years.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The Newman LNP Government is committed to making Queensland a safer place to live, work and raise a family and these measures mean communities will be better protected when flooding strikes again.”</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <em>Wivenhoe Somerset Dam Optimisation Study</em> (WSDOS) and the <em>North Pine Dam Optimisation Study</em> (NPDOS) were recommended by the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Seqwater chief executive Peter Dennis said the studies followed the most comprehensive analysis of dam operations in flood scenarios ever undertaken in south east Queensland.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr McArdle said the new Wivenhoe Dam strategy could result in some bridges, such as Colleges Crossing near Ipswich, being closed more regularly when it floods and warned that it was impossible to prevent all flooding in Brisbane and Ipswich.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“All floods are different and the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams are both upstream of Lockyer Creek and the Bremer River and cannot protect us from floods coming down those watercourses,” Mr McArdle said.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Department of Energy and Water Supply is finalising a preliminary investigation into potential new dams and the raising of Wivenhoe Dam, with the findings due to be completed before Christmas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Further information is available at <a href="http://www.dews.qld.gov.au/">www.dews.qld.gov.au</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;">26.11.14</span></div>
</div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-91626343677639171662014-11-08T10:21:00.000+10:002014-11-08T10:22:35.007+10:00SEQ class action set down for 2016 Supreme Court hearing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="round_top" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="round_top_inner" style="background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 100%, 0% 0%, color-stop(0.3, rgb(18, 126, 195)), color-stop(0.8, rgb(53, 145, 204))) !important; border-top-color: rgb(80, 154, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: none; padding: 4px !important;">
<br></div>
</div>
<div class="boxed_blue" style="border-color: rgb(10, 56, 100) rgb(153, 153, 153) rgb(153, 153, 153); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; padding: 10px;">
<div class="news">
<div class="spacer_v10" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;">
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin: 0px 15px 15px 0px;">
<div style="padding: 2px; text-align: center; width: 154px;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Audience submitted image" class="img" src="http://data.weatherzone.com.au/wzservletalias/newsfile?id=8259&w=150&h=150" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 0px;" width="150"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The class action will go ahead in 2016.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="spacer_v5" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A class action launched against the Queensland Government and its two water authorities will go ahead in 2016.<br><br>The Supreme Court in Sydney today struck out the class action's statement of claim - but would allow it to be amended for the case to be heard on July 18, 2016.<br><br>Law firm Maurice Blackburn is representing about 4,500 Brisbane and Ipswich flood victims in a bid to claw back more than $1 billion lost in the disaster.<br><br>The class action claims too much water was released from Wivenhoe Dam at the peak of the floods to unnecessarily push up the Brisbane and Bremer rivers.<br><br>Two of the three defendants - SEQ Water and Sunwater - .<br><br>The other defendant, the state of Queensland, did not support the motion.<br><br>The Supreme Court today ruled the plaintiff did not address adequately the phrase "risk of harm" as it appeared in the Civil Liability Act.<br><br>There was also not enough detail on the cause of the flood nor what height the plaintiff thought would have been appropriate in the lead up to future downpours.<br><br>"As well, the plaintiff needed to address its allegations of breach of duty by deleting those allegations which deal with states of mind, and limiting its claim for breach of duty to allegations of acting inappropriately or failing to act appropriately," the judgement said.<br><br>The court ruled the class action's statement of claim would be re-pleaded.<br><br>"We're pleased that we have a road map for our clients to the final resolution of this case," said Maurice Blackburn's Damian Scattini.<br><br>"Preparing for trial in a case of this size and significance takes enormous resources, so while for some July 2016 may seem like a long way off, we will be using every day between now and the trial to bring the strongest case possible before the court."<br><br>Seqwater said it was pleasing the Court is asking Maurice Blackburn to clearly articulate its case<br><br>In 2012, the Queensland Floods Commission found the dam's manual was not properly followed on the weekend leading up to the flood peak.<br><br>More than 78 per cent of Queensland was declared a disaster zone during the floods in December 2010 and January 2011, which affected more than 2.5 million people.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
www.weatherzone.com.au</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
7.11.14</div>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-46078883849115721512014-11-08T09:41:00.001+10:002014-11-08T09:41:38.226+10:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-weight: bold;" valign="middle" width="80%"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Td1FT8-F4t29xjNuXp_3e5E6qXoY1JF5deV7ZMmX7GzOhcGDKzEzQfow_6fsmthR_j62dUps6Dou1k71eDsPXL-3sBFyvezyVAUbevJQbpjE5gl6sq_J-sDKt9gjEUpuycJpyThlzBM/s1600/Class+Action+Logo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Td1FT8-F4t29xjNuXp_3e5E6qXoY1JF5deV7ZMmX7GzOhcGDKzEzQfow_6fsmthR_j62dUps6Dou1k71eDsPXL-3sBFyvezyVAUbevJQbpjE5gl6sq_J-sDKt9gjEUpuycJpyThlzBM/s1600/Class+Action+Logo+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="margin-left: 10px;" valign="middle" width="20%"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="margin-left: 10px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">ALMOST four years after southeast Queensland was ravaged by floods, many victims constantly relive the devastation, according to Ipswich councillor Paul Tully.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Every day, every day" they see the scars left behind, he says on behalf of the 4500 members of the largest class action in Australian history, who are suing the Queensland government over the disaster.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Brought by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, the case will be heard from July 18, 2016, in the NSW Supreme Court because Queensland does not have a class action regime.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mr Tully yesterday said the setting of the date let victims know they would get their day in court. But he is also mindful that by then, five years will have passed since the floods left a $2.3 billion damage bill.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/">www.dailytelegraph.com.au</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8.11.14</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-5994565704221796822014-11-07T16:33:00.003+10:002014-11-07T16:35:28.507+10:00Scars remain for Brisbane River flood victims<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXbzQ5hpXuJJ9Hq3xvv9T5bS9AfmIRG0tqWN2HkCRB7PJddxp4t4jOpSZEmKSuZzT-vpMwkYq594ofouLTI6SKWQFmJi_SMSifk5yIn6y-tOLNGWSf41Z-82y_ra7ZMXScA8TaupDiSw/s1600/2011+Flood+Goodna+-+McDonalds+Store+Brisbane+Rd+Goodna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXbzQ5hpXuJJ9Hq3xvv9T5bS9AfmIRG0tqWN2HkCRB7PJddxp4t4jOpSZEmKSuZzT-vpMwkYq594ofouLTI6SKWQFmJi_SMSifk5yIn6y-tOLNGWSf41Z-82y_ra7ZMXScA8TaupDiSw/s1600/2011+Flood+Goodna+-+McDonalds+Store+Brisbane+Rd+Goodna.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Almost four years after southeast Queensland was ravaged by floods, many victims constantly re-live the devastation, according to Ipswich councillor Paul Tully.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Every day, every day" they see the scars left behind, he says on behalf of the 4500 members of the largest class action in Australian history who are suing the Queensland government over the disaster.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Brought by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, the case will be heard from July 18, 2016 in the NSW Supreme Court because Queensland does not have a class action regime.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr Tully, from the Ipswich suburb of Goodna, said on Friday the setting of the date had given victims fresh hope they would finally have their day in court.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But he is also mindful that by the time of the hearing, five years will have passed since the floods left behind a $2.38 billion trail of destruction, with 200,000 people affected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Goodna - the worst-affected area in southeast Queensland - more than 600 homes and businesses were flooded.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"A lot of people are still struggling. Behind the walls there are homes that haven't been restored," Mr Tully said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"There's individual homes where you still see the effects of the floods inside, where places might look reasonable on the outside but on the inside they're still battle-scarred."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The class action claims dam operators were negligent during the 2011 crisis.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the rain pelted down and water backed up, operators made large releases to prevent Wivenhoe Dam collapsing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The lawyers say the result was unnecessary flooding in Brisbane and Ipswich.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn principal Damian Scattini says the trial date may seem distant but it's sooner than expected and there is a lot of work to do.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many of the victims, he said, thought it would never happen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr Tully is conscious it could be 2017 at the earliest before the matter is resolved, and remains hopeful a settlement might be reached sooner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It's still going to be a long haul," he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"There's ample time for the parties to sit down, when they become fully aware of the strength of each party's case, and I'd be hoping the government takes a lead role in this, and tries to effect a settlement without a lengthy court hearing."</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.9news.com.au/" target="_blank">www.9news.com.au</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">7.11.14</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-30658327531958288232014-11-07T11:16:00.001+10:002014-11-07T16:36:28.640+10:00Brisbane and Bremer River Floods Class Action: Link to Statement of Claim in NSW Supreme Court<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfasVebD5mGbYJG50SrI08TEhwozQHzT_1DimLLll2Zfqh57eXBMm8QuYCWNHnS0XKzc5LlkmyJxVgv8sZ0I-obNSfKPv2gxzcznKO-iLz9JwKr1MUh0qf0uStppfFASPLtoaVNqvPMlE/s1600/Scales+of+justice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfasVebD5mGbYJG50SrI08TEhwozQHzT_1DimLLll2Zfqh57eXBMm8QuYCWNHnS0XKzc5LlkmyJxVgv8sZ0I-obNSfKPv2gxzcznKO-iLz9JwKr1MUh0qf0uStppfFASPLtoaVNqvPMlE/s1600/Scales+of+justice.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Click <a href="http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/supremecourt/m670001l771034/qld_floods_statementofclaim_080714.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> for the link to the full 153-page Statement of Claim filed by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in the New South Wales Supreme Court on 8 July 2014 on behalf of the Brisbane and Ipswich 2011 flood victims who have signed up for the class action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The case will be heard in the Supreme Court commencing 18 July 2016, unless settled sooner by the parties.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The action has been commenced in NSW because Queensland does not have a Class Action regime.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKIjrDdLpNKjbcR7QYpSRw2jkG_SO62jx2bnisazlw54-f7P7CDayDBPualplEf1VGvswDrF_TY303qDOmXnOhTfu4sCIRZOvU5eRYfmnDqjP6wvBvRWFlcmSsrR5m7NJPr6GbkMfp5c/s1600/Tim+Carmody+and+Campbell+Newman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKIjrDdLpNKjbcR7QYpSRw2jkG_SO62jx2bnisazlw54-f7P7CDayDBPualplEf1VGvswDrF_TY303qDOmXnOhTfu4sCIRZOvU5eRYfmnDqjP6wvBvRWFlcmSsrR5m7NJPr6GbkMfp5c/s1600/Tim+Carmody+and+Campbell+Newman.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief Justice Tim Carmody<br />
with Premier Campbell Newman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maybe Queensland Chief Justice Tim Carmody could use his close links to the Queensland Government to push for this reform.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;">7.11.14</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-26501353394708179292014-11-07T07:35:00.002+10:002014-11-07T07:35:53.251+10:00Attempt to stop flood victims class action case a low blow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIusNAr-z-dydPbIKYOpbTjn1UHIIQF3gBBomc_9wYHMyni4GELi_sFihb1DukejP9uvsnhnfR-FlRz0yM1dbdnghdqmpFchj2yyVFO9WA_Om9AToB2C_vbiqf6mcRJPsqeRgX_rcTxM0/s1600/Brian+Bennion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIusNAr-z-dydPbIKYOpbTjn1UHIIQF3gBBomc_9wYHMyni4GELi_sFihb1DukejP9uvsnhnfR-FlRz0yM1dbdnghdqmpFchj2yyVFO9WA_Om9AToB2C_vbiqf6mcRJPsqeRgX_rcTxM0/s1600/Brian+Bennion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Award winning journalist <br />Brian Bennion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Award winning <a href="http://www.qt.com.au/" target="_blank">Queensland Times</a> journalist Brian Bennion writes:<br />
<br />
IT MAY be "routine" legal play for Seqwater and SunWater to try to stop flood victims taking their case to court but most of Queensland will see it as a low blow.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
More than 4500 Ipswich and Brisbane flood victims have a case that must be heard.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The January 2011 floods took lives, destroyed homes, crippled businesses, ruined livelihoods and broke hearts as families lost irreplaceable possessions, especially the simple things like photographs of children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcofQhWy9SF0-D-41x7jCBybVoaxK6y6iZIFXOdELFZz5DY_DKzATRo5C6789L2s68YlGdo18Ho5KvuWXfh7piASVcgXCk1fLizYFwZYiGIvSAN15Pm7F09vikI3NAFzIANuIzpdAMHE/s1600/Brisbane+Terrace+and+Layard+St+Goodna+2011+flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcofQhWy9SF0-D-41x7jCBybVoaxK6y6iZIFXOdELFZz5DY_DKzATRo5C6789L2s68YlGdo18Ho5KvuWXfh7piASVcgXCk1fLizYFwZYiGIvSAN15Pm7F09vikI3NAFzIANuIzpdAMHE/s1600/Brisbane+Terrace+and+Layard+St+Goodna+2011+flood.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 flood slowly rising at corner of <br />Brisbane Tce and Layard St Goodna.<br /> Pic: Lubo Jonic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The State Government has a duty to ensure the victims of this flood have their day in court.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Is the State Government being a "model litigant" in the proceedings, Premier Campbell Newman?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr Newman was quite vocal in making the former government accountable and answerable to the management of Wivenhoe Dam in the lead-up to the floods.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the government-owned corporations of Seqwater and SunWater to attempt to throw the matter out of court is out of line.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is a lot to lose. The cost to these corporations and the Government would be more than $1 billion. But there is also a reputation to uphold and the people of Queensland must have faith in the operators of our water assets and an assurance that the management of Wivenhoe Dam minimises the devastating impact of floods and certainly does not exaggerate the impact.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.qt.com.au/">www.QT.com.au</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;">7.11.14</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-15457441758354591522014-11-07T07:18:00.000+10:002014-11-07T07:19:28.783+10:00Brisbane River Flood victims get trial date set for July 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrlU2hI_wLFhjisbA_3_rG2JYghciBrLFV1oN47oW26tvKOIGRa57wvfxXjorC_nq51M1q7hs9iKmcI2eoU_poJmCG2I1UCIvjFOe9iF0WCHi-5UrRjH_T2WJqPKk9m1e6kPjR_7gfgk/s1600/Queen+St+Goodna+January+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrlU2hI_wLFhjisbA_3_rG2JYghciBrLFV1oN47oW26tvKOIGRa57wvfxXjorC_nq51M1q7hs9iKmcI2eoU_poJmCG2I1UCIvjFOe9iF0WCHi-5UrRjH_T2WJqPKk9m1e6kPjR_7gfgk/s1600/Queen+St+Goodna+January+2011.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen St Goodna - January 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Victims of southeast Queensland's devastating 2011 floods have a trial date set for the largest class action in Australian history.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The class action for approximately 4500 flood victims will be heard in court on July 18, 2016, according to lawyers representing the victims.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The date was handed down on Thursday at the Federal Court of Australia to the relief of victims, who claim dam operators were negligent during the 2011 flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the rain pelted down and water backed up, operators were forced to make large water releases to prevent Wivenhoe dam from collapsing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The result was unnecessary flooding in Brisbane and Ipswich to the west, lawyers have claimed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Previous estimates have suggested a possible compensation claim of $1 billion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn principal Damian Scattini says the trial date may seem distant, but it's sooner than expected and there is a lot of work to do.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many of the victims, he said, thought it would never happen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The action was lodged in NSW because there's no class action regime in Queensland.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.skynews.com.au/">www.skynews.com.au</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">6.11.14</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #741b47;"><b>COMMENT: It's now time for Premier Campbell Newman, Seqwater and SunWater to do what the Premier said he would do in 2012 and act like a "model litigant". This issue has dragged on for almost 4 years and the state government and its two recalcitrant agencies should now offer to sit around the negotiating table to achieve an honourable outcome for the 4500 flood victims who suffered so much on 11-12 January 2011. This should provide a just outcome without the necessity of a long, drawn-out Supreme Court trial where the only guaranteed winners are the lawyers. - Paul Tully</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-86483598536893210492014-11-07T06:53:00.001+10:002014-11-07T06:53:28.972+10:00Seqwater loses round one as judge throws out challenge to Brisbane River class action flood claim<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
FLOOD victims from Ipswich will get their chance to fight for compensation with a trial date set for July 2016.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The class action headed to court this week as two of the three defendants, Seqwater and SunWater, moved to have the claim struck out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Their application was based on a lack of detail in the claim, arguing an absence of any alternative water release strategy was a fundamental flaw.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The State of Queensland did not support the application before the court.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers principal Damian Scattini yesterday said the judge had ruled the case would continue.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It is good news that we have a trial date," Mr Scattini said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"There will be people that look at that as some time away but there is plenty of work to do before then. It's a good outcome.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"People will have their day in court. There's nothing that will stop that."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed the claim in the New South Wales Supreme Court in July on behalf of more than 4500 affected residents and business owners.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Their case claims dam engineers were negligent in their handling of the disaster which ultimately led to huge volumes of water being released downstream as a last resort to protect the structural integrity of the dam.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The 150-page claim was lodged in NSW because there is no avenue in Queensland to launch a class action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The operators of Wivenhoe Dam have denied any wrongdoing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
SunWater declined to comment on the matter and Seqwater would not comment on yesterday's developments.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The water corporations' moves to strike out the statement of claim only appeared to boost the confidence of homeowners and businesses that have joined the class action.<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKQ70P-j8xZA7G0wKJvaXYt9v3JwGx45QyT2FyUU9A6xQLpSuaH3F-54p_sgMtwh_FfJ6pSZgb3WjjOnK2IxnWtESJFXp6lOIuaNLiUX8QXTGT28TdXmRqvYUbtxaSoPSTjWTGcirBE4/s1600/Frank+Beaumont+Flood+victim+Goodna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKQ70P-j8xZA7G0wKJvaXYt9v3JwGx45QyT2FyUU9A6xQLpSuaH3F-54p_sgMtwh_FfJ6pSZgb3WjjOnK2IxnWtESJFXp6lOIuaNLiUX8QXTGT28TdXmRqvYUbtxaSoPSTjWTGcirBE4/s1600/Frank+Beaumont+Flood+victim+Goodna.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodna flood victim Frank Beaumont - <br />Wants an admission the authorities got it wrong<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Goodna homeowner Frank Beaumont whose home of 27 years was completely submerged in the floodwaters, leaving nothing but three walls, the roof and internal timber frames to return to, yesterday said he was pleased to hear the claim was going ahead.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The money is secondary to some admission that they were wrong," Mr Beaumont said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Yes, the money would be handy because it cost us everything we ever had.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I've got no superannuation left. We had no money. We had to beg, borrow and steal at the time to even get started with the house.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I want some satisfaction that that they did not follow procedures.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We can't sell our houses. We've lost 39-45% of the value of our properties. We've lost all our savings, everything."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizppwpqLq3n2pTcIMEsxKMFbQwmBhGnJoKw_U4GOaKgwlR_ynf4H2TvAeQ1lgGsQHXkAZIsMJljNj4a6H44m1ekQMs2mrkHHsYSNo11r2FE2kIDRHs63c1NsUAC6eQ6czO1x5D-gP_p4U/s1600/Dave+Christie+Goodna+Services+Club+President.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizppwpqLq3n2pTcIMEsxKMFbQwmBhGnJoKw_U4GOaKgwlR_ynf4H2TvAeQ1lgGsQHXkAZIsMJljNj4a6H44m1ekQMs2mrkHHsYSNo11r2FE2kIDRHs63c1NsUAC6eQ6czO1x5D-gP_p4U/s1600/Dave+Christie+Goodna+Services+Club+President.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodna Services Club President Dave Christie -<br />"Why try to stop it if there's nothing to hide?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />Goodna Services Club president David Christie said a large number of members were affected by the flood and the club struggled through an 18-month closure after the flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The club lost infrastructure and fittings to two buildings but was able to refurbish and operate temporarily out of the smaller function room three months after the flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr Christie said the club luckily had cash reserves to keep it going until refurbishments were completed but he said those reserves were almost exhausted.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the application to shut down the case only highlighted what the government-owned corporations had to lose.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I can understand what Seqwater, SunWater and the government are doing," Mr Christie said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It's all about saving money. They stand to lose one or two billion dollars.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Why try to stop it if there's nothing to hide?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41TJWo1Q_BsmvJgu_TIILOSk_BIusth77vyzirvUG5NrYlUM13mR94GlsAreLV2WMPC_12Pehzpuqr8vuExjg4D7OLA-5mtJACLh3q4Uevd3yo0Cy5cBmaBxJaUZwKi49U7hQlTb9TXk/s1600/Cr+Paul+Tully+-+High+Res+Pic+with+Border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41TJWo1Q_BsmvJgu_TIILOSk_BIusth77vyzirvUG5NrYlUM13mR94GlsAreLV2WMPC_12Pehzpuqr8vuExjg4D7OLA-5mtJACLh3q4Uevd3yo0Cy5cBmaBxJaUZwKi49U7hQlTb9TXk/s1600/Cr+Paul+Tully+-+High+Res+Pic+with+Border.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cr Paul Tully - <br />Confident the claim will succeed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Goodna-based Councillor Paul Tully said he was confident Maurice Blackburn Lawyers would be able to prove the Wivenhoe Dam was mismanaged in the lead-up to the January 2011 flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It is good the flood victims of Ipswich and Brisbane have finally got their day in court after four frustrating years," Cr Tully said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.qt.com.au/">www.QT.com.au</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">7.11.14</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-42011596752193987812014-11-06T10:11:00.005+10:002014-11-06T19:15:53.339+10:00Bentham IMF Wivenhoe Dam case set to open litigation floodgates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://images.smh.com.au/2014/10/21/5903799/Article%20Lead%20-%20wide625756591197k5image.related.articleLeadwide.729x410.1197or.png1413863428638.jpg-620x349.jpg" height="179" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wivenhoe Dam: Flood litigation case <br />
is being funded by Bentham IMF.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<strong>What's new?</strong><br />
<br />
Listed litigation funder Bentham IMF's fully-owned US subsidiary is picking up steam after announcing the funding of further cases in August. Last month the company announced it had a successful outcome which will generate income of $16 million and a profit of approximately $7.6 million before tax and after capitalised costs.<br />
<br />
Australia, meanwhile, provides a strong base for the company, being at least the fifth largest common law litigation market in the world. IMF's Australian business continues to go from strength to strength, with the funding of the Wivenhoe Dam case, one that is expected to be the company's largest funded case to date.<br />
<br />
A Statement of Claim against the State of Queensland and others in respect to the Brisbane Floods was filed in July. Other recent actions include open-class proceedings to enable bank customers who have paid late fees, but are not presently a part of original class actions, to be able to participate in the eventual outcome. Last month the company announced a conditional settlement of a confidential matter in Australia, which is likely to generate $2.5 million of income and a gross profit of approximately $1.6 million.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuS2hRRNbgkFnyYb8500Z_mqXUzymWOJPrk1phBAfGwigG2PQqTu_lCfRBs-W6JT3CSBSHN2I_HOgFJG-EP0yVXRXbSAQeBCfuqH59fPcTGfciQ_f0V_9RAzqZtsnsoKxwZsnbripdcY/s1600/Bentham+IMF+Limited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuS2hRRNbgkFnyYb8500Z_mqXUzymWOJPrk1phBAfGwigG2PQqTu_lCfRBs-W6JT3CSBSHN2I_HOgFJG-EP0yVXRXbSAQeBCfuqH59fPcTGfciQ_f0V_9RAzqZtsnsoKxwZsnbripdcY/s1600/Bentham+IMF+Limited.png" height="77" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The scale that Bentham IMF has built will allow it to tackle larger cases and aggressive defendants. While predicting how each single case will ultimately fare is difficult to predict, Bentham IMF seeks to stack the odds in its favour and build a portfolio of cases that stand to deliver attractive returns for shareholders. The company certainly has a formidable track record here, having commenced and completed 159 cases as at 30 June, from the time of its listing on the ASX in 2001. The average investment period was 2.3 years and Bentham has collected $1.47 billion from these cases, with approximately 65 per cent going to clients ($957m) and $514 million to Bentham, comprised of $189 million in reimbursement costs and $325 million in net revenue. Gross return on investment has been high, at around 273 per cent. Only six cases have been lost and the company withdrew from a further 35.<br />
<br />
<strong>Outlook</strong><br />
<br />
We expect to see Bentham pursue many more offshore opportunities in the years to come, with offices established in Los Angeles, New York and the UK. The company's focus will be on similar markets with a strong rule of law, established legal systems with a clear set of statutory laws and legal fraternity. The company also entered into an agreement with US investment group Elliott Management earlier in the year, and this stands the company in good stead for future deal flow. The deal will assist the company in funding cases throughout Europe and co-fund larger cases in the Asia Pacific.<br />
<br />
The agreement provides Bentham IMF with a partner that has very deep pockets, and opens up a far broader universe of potential attractive opportunities, further positioning the company to become a leading litigation player globally.<br />
<br />
Third-party litigation funding has moved ahead quickly in the US, UK and the Netherlands over the past five years and become more readily accepted as a funding alternative. Competition is relatively limited as well.<br />
<br />
<strong>Price</strong><br />
<br />
Trading in the shares has been volatile of late, but given a strong fundamental picture, and with prices below recent highs, there would appear a reasonable entry point at the moment.<br />
<br />
<strong>Worth Buying?</strong><br />
<br />
We believe the company offers an interesting investment opportunity with a strong management team, good deal flow and a diversified investment portfolio. The tie-up with Elliott Management further strengthens the case for Bentham IMF. Due to the nature of litigation funding, future earnings are difficult to estimate, particularly in regards to what timeframe they fall in. However, the stock is currently trading on circa 8.7 times consensus EPS estimates for fiscal 2015. We view this as inexpensive given the company's broad investment portfolio and the potential to return a significant dividend if successful in a number of its cases over the next couple of years.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/">www.SMH.com.au</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/bentham-imf-wivenhoe-dam-case-set-to-open-litigation-floodgates-20141021-1197or.html#ixzz3IF4E6YQi" style="color: #003399;">http://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/bentham-imf-wivenhoe-dam-case-set-to-open-litigation-floodgates-20141021-1197or.html#ixzz3IF4E6YQi</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-59003206292185148282014-11-06T05:37:00.000+10:002014-11-06T09:56:07.859+10:00Brisbane flood claim bogged down in legal argument by state entities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2014/11/05/1227113/958145-3aa2d118-64c6-11e4-a360-a5bf402bfb8e.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A torrent of water is released from the<br />Wivenhoe Dam into the Brisbane River<br /> after flooding rains in January 2011</span>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A LEGAL battle over the validity of the Wivenhoe Dam class action will resume in a Sydney court this morning as the Queensland Government pursues its attempts to have the case dismissed.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If successful, the massive class action, representing more than 4000 victims of the 2011 January floods in the state’s southeast, could reap hundreds of millions of dollars for claimants.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the State Government has tried to have the matter dismissed before evidence is heard, alleging a lack of detail in the claim brought by Maurice Blackburn lawyers and backed by litigation funder IMF.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Seqwater, which had control of Wivenhoe during the floods, is defending the claims that dam engineers followed a flawed strategy that led to much of the flooding.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Chief Executive Officer Peter Dennis said the application to throw the matter out was related to a lack of specifics in the claim.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Seqwater had expected the class action to contain evidence from international experts outlining an alternative water-release strategy that would have better protected householders.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“There is no reference to this modelling in the current claim,” Mr Dennis said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn principal Damian Scattini was last night confident the class action would go ahead.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He described the Government’s tactics as typical of the legal skirmishes accompanying such cases.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Applications such as this are routine in class actions,” Mr Scattini said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Usually, there are many applications by both sides along the way. Whatever happens, the class action will continue and our clients will get their day in court.”</div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/">www.CourierMail.com.au</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">6.11.14</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-7002419157957979422014-11-06T05:26:00.002+10:002014-11-06T05:29:40.044+10:002011 Brisbane River flood sequel: Court bid to throw out Australia's largest class action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1HRVpiMtHKqDpoTfdkvVt6673r6JwlxVtGxbX2qacRKFtX01J28JJPH4KT-TnwQcXw_wHMqgzq2L-5e7GBLer2Lqxxub4ZrolI0J-2_2qcbfVUyOk0dcJvoRNNkNAQ3YOiNigvlCXgk/s1600/Goodna+Flood+12+January+2011+looking+east+from+Barram+St+Goodna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1HRVpiMtHKqDpoTfdkvVt6673r6JwlxVtGxbX2qacRKFtX01J28JJPH4KT-TnwQcXw_wHMqgzq2L-5e7GBLer2Lqxxub4ZrolI0J-2_2qcbfVUyOk0dcJvoRNNkNAQ3YOiNigvlCXgk/s1600/Goodna+Flood+12+January+2011+looking+east+from+Barram+St+Goodna.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 flood at Goodna</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
AUSTRALIA'S largest class action on behalf of victims of the 2011 floods was in the courts yesterday as Seqwater and SunWater moved to have the claim struck out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was the first court hearing since Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed the claim against Seqwater, SunWater and the State of Queensland in the New South Wales Supreme Court in July.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Seqwater chief executive officer Peter Dennis said the application was based on a lack of detail in the claim.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The public has been told for some time by the solicitors and funders for the class action that modelling by international experts has been undertaken to support an alternative water release strategy during the January 2011 flood event, that shows little or no flooding would have occurred," Mr Dennis said. "There is no reference to this modelling in the current claim.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Seqwater considers the absence of any alternative water release strategy to be a fundamental flaw in the claim."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lawyers for the 4500 Ipswich and Brisbane flood victims involved in the class action emerged confident from the first day of a three-day hearing into the application.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers principal Damian Scattini said applications such as this were routine in class actions and he had no doubt the class action would proceed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"This application is, no doubt, the first of many such skirmishes we will go through in this class action," Mr Scattini said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We knew that from the start and we remain confident in the strength of our case.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Whatever happens, the class action will continue and our clients will get their day in court."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, whose Goodna home was affected by the floods, called on the State Government to negotiate a settlement of the claim.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It is disappointing the State Government is vigorously contesting the claim given both former premier Anna Bligh and (then) opposition leader Campbell Newman indicated the state should act as a model litigant in any legal proceedings," Cr Tully said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I am calling on the State Government to negotiate a settlement of the claim without wasting more taxpayers' money on lawyers' fighting what is the largest class action ever launched in Australia.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Home and businesses owners who are part of the class action deserve to be fully compensated for their losses."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whatever happens, the class action will continue and our clients will get their day in court.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.qt.com.au/" target="_blank">www.QT.com.au </a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">6.11.14</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-775443236863087342014-11-05T21:12:00.003+10:002014-11-05T21:13:30.009+10:00Queensland flood class action hits legal hurdle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1B-U7-cmB4YBNkMQeENSpWMtKCkkQfZy_OIqroTmFtsv5bjk4ke_5ijJeJ2A_KQQziXVGvZLC_yW9NysJ7E63eR1s_YLI8xfyoqeL9B19wLZ0MewIL_m9M3wpzI2ErycYjkQLVQ77_M/s1600/photo-740363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1B-U7-cmB4YBNkMQeENSpWMtKCkkQfZy_OIqroTmFtsv5bjk4ke_5ijJeJ2A_KQQziXVGvZLC_yW9NysJ7E63eR1s_YLI8xfyoqeL9B19wLZ0MewIL_m9M3wpzI2ErycYjkQLVQ77_M/s1600/photo-740363.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodna Services Club, January 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Queensland water authorities are attempting to strike out a class action claim for damages stemming from the 2011 flood in south-east Queensland.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is representing about 4,000 Brisbane and Ipswich flood victims in a bid to claw back more than a billion dollars lost in the disaster.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The class action, which was being heard in the Supreme Court in Sydney, claimed too much water was released from Wivenhoe Dam at the peak of the floods to unnecessarily push up the Brisbane and Bremer rivers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In 2012, the Queensland Floods Commission found the dam's manual was not properly followed on the weekend leading up to the flood peak.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today, two of the three defendants - SEQ Water and Sunwater - filed motions to have the claims struck out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The other defendant the State of Queensland did not support the motion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A spokeswoman for Maurice Blackburn said applications to strike out claims were routine and believed the class action would continue.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The case resumes on Thursday and was expected to run all week.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
More than 78 per cent of Queensland was declared a disaster zone during the floods in December 2010 and January 2011, which affected more than 2.5 million people.</div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/">www.ABC.net.au</a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-68128328113248747162014-11-05T20:39:00.001+10:002014-11-05T20:42:07.670+10:00Seqwater and SunWater breaching State Principles over flood class action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Queensland Government reviewed its Model Litigant Principles on 12 October 2012.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Model Litigant Principles can be accessed <a href="http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/model-litigant-principles">here</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
These Principles which were issued by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General are intended to serve as a binding requirement on the State Government and its agencies in the handling of all litigation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The introduction to the Principles states:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/model-litigant-principles#1. The State and all agencies must conduct themselves as model litigants in the conduct of all litigation by adhering to the following principles of fairness:">1. The State and all agencies must conduct themselves as model litigants in the conduct of all litigation by adhering to the following principles of fairness:</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/model-litigant-principles#2. The State must behave as a model litigant in the conduct of all litigation, including significant litigation, by adhering to the following principles of firmness:">2. The State must behave as a model litigant in the conduct of all litigation, including significant litigation, by adhering to the following principles of firmness:</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/model-litigant-principles#3. Alternative dispute resolution">3. Alternative dispute resolution</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Principles go on to state numerous requirements, most-significantly requiring the State and its agencies to ensure they are consistently <b>"dealing with claims promptly and not causing unnecessary delay in the handling of claims and litigation"</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have the Boards of Seqwater and SunWater ever read these binding Principles?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It would appear the answer is a resounding "NO" because of their antics today in the New South Wales Supreme Court to get the Court to unilaterally throw out the class action case against them by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers on behalf of over 4000 Brisbane River flood victims who suffered financially and personally as a result of the January 2011 flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIZ1CCcZ-a8ljmUj9IP19iQKVqbZfY3OhYPT9SV5uNWmtMX7iUhZhyphenhyphenOEvoXWIIixJCTXX8apxq3dESnIpMCalHQOJvtd3LR0kkWn6xNRsZfPjCAoiX7itxBtgnKbMkbWPpOR3L3q-WGc/s1600/Buffoons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIZ1CCcZ-a8ljmUj9IP19iQKVqbZfY3OhYPT9SV5uNWmtMX7iUhZhyphenhyphenOEvoXWIIixJCTXX8apxq3dESnIpMCalHQOJvtd3LR0kkWn6xNRsZfPjCAoiX7itxBtgnKbMkbWPpOR3L3q-WGc/s1600/Buffoons.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The buffoons running these two entities should be abiding by the spirit and letter of these Principles rather than trying to use every legal technicality possible to stop the case proceeding to its ultimate conclusion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even the State Government did not fall into the trap of breaching its own Principles.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Seqwater, SunWater and the Queensland Government should be looking for an early settlement of this class action to avoid running up a king's ransom in legal fees to ensure that their morally indefensible stance does not drag on for years at the expense of bona fide claimants who are still hurting badly as a result of the bumbling ineptitude of Seqwater in the lead-up to the 2011 flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-7656917843910096152014-11-05T20:09:00.002+10:002014-11-07T10:58:11.915+10:00Seqwater and SunWater should hang their heads in shame over their treatment of flood victims<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a disgraceful move, Queensland government entities Seqwater and SunWater have treated victims of the 2011 Brisbane River flood disgracefully.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the Floods Commission of Inquiry Report was handed down in 2012, there was bipartisan support from the then Premier Anna Bligh and then LNP Leader Campbell Newman that, irrespective of the pending election, each of them would ensure the Queensland government acted as a "model litigant" in the event of a class action over the flood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On 8 July 2014, a class action was filed by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers on behalf of over 4000 claimants in the New South Wales Supreme Court. It was funded by Bentham IMF Limited.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUUGDjbjlMOd-L-8ozNamGRVCkHzpq-1-hyDzogTya5j6jcyWlDEAeXcm5cGFO9CehEOEJwa5jSiRqi1cK0rOqH5awNLBnzMfXcBy90y4yGZX6MuJ8VmI7srggkKq4l1FFCedRWx6I8Y/s1600/Seqwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUUGDjbjlMOd-L-8ozNamGRVCkHzpq-1-hyDzogTya5j6jcyWlDEAeXcm5cGFO9CehEOEJwa5jSiRqi1cK0rOqH5awNLBnzMfXcBy90y4yGZX6MuJ8VmI7srggkKq4l1FFCedRWx6I8Y/s1600/Seqwater.jpg" /></a></div>
On 5 November 2014, that claim was formally opposed in the Supreme Court by Seqwater and SunWater who sought orders to strike out the claims.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That is truly appalling behaviour by these two entities who are proving they have hearts of lead and the compassion of a dead dingo.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV54WGaurQq3RCCzO6MbSBfIsO9vAd1W0Nvs6amhmcS4qoZ4rJET3vvB-cpQWjQRZG3eBwXgptAg4swNM4QGksabkrSDLi_EAt2n47r729qyfbVqSEdDqoUJuLNI2JNZtaL-seA4ixb4Q/s1600/Peter+Denniss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV54WGaurQq3RCCzO6MbSBfIsO9vAd1W0Nvs6amhmcS4qoZ4rJET3vvB-cpQWjQRZG3eBwXgptAg4swNM4QGksabkrSDLi_EAt2n47r729qyfbVqSEdDqoUJuLNI2JNZtaL-seA4ixb4Q/s1600/Peter+Denniss.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Denniss - CEO Seqwater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/" target="_blank">The Australian</a> newspaper reported today:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Peter Denniss, the head of Seqwater, said the NSW Supreme Court strike-out action was based on the "lack of detail in the (class action) claim".</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Is he serious? - A detailed 153 page claim and he says there is a "lack of detail"!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Does he know what a "model litigant" is?<br />
<br />
The Premier Campbell Newman should step in and tell those running these two out-of-touch entities to pull their horns in and allow the class action to proceed unhindered by legal technicalities, corporate prevarication and inappropriate delaying tactics.<br />
<br />
Only then can the Supreme Court begin to consider the merits of the legal action free from petty legal tactics which make some of Clive Palmer's more-outrageous courtroom antics look like those of positively-impeccable litigant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-29929296652755748952014-11-05T18:46:00.003+10:002014-11-05T18:49:27.813+10:00Disgraceful bid by Seqwater to kill Brisbane River flood class action <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
MORE than 4000 flood victims of alleged negligence by operators of Brisbane’s Wivenhoe Dam in 2011 face a legal hurdle today as lawyers for the Newman government try to terminate their class action.<br />
<br />
State-owned Seqwater will argue in the Supreme Court in Sydney that the class action should be struck out. The legal bout represents an early bid by the insurers of Wivenhoe Dam, potentially liable for hundreds of millions of dollars of a multibillion-dollar damages claim.<br />
<br />
The flood victims from the January 2011 Brisbane River disaster are represented by Maurice Blackburn, with funding from litigation funder IMF.<br />
<br />
Flood victims have been told by the law firm that the Queensland government-owned entities “seek orders that the claim be struck out in its entirety — that we be, in effect, ordered to start again with a whole new statement of claim. We believe that we have the better argument and we are confident”.<br />
<br />
Peter Denniss, the head of Seqwater, said the NSW Supreme Court strike-out action was based on “the lack of detail in the (class action) claim”.<br />
<br />
“The public has been told for some time by the solicitors and funders for the class action that modelling by international experts has been undertaken to support an alternative water- release strategy during the January 2011 flood event that shows little or no flooding would have occurred,” Mr Denniss said yesterday. “There is no reference to this modelling in the current claim.<br />
<br />
“The solicitors and funders for the class action have had more than 3 ½ years to prepare the claim. Seqwater considers the absence of any alternative water- release strategy to be a fundamental flaw in the claim.”<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7kRKuYzGn3k9ZT_BHvOZO7phOl3EGv5Ju2cA6XyPKUaAitkUPuVazFg9hoKK-WZnNUffQZtnS5ekoRdAOiu6zRU1S7SlZZFtF0kk45UPvX3kK6j8M7ku933du2oj3oiiMJf1UpmdM8U/s1600/Damian+Scattini+Maurice+Blackburn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7kRKuYzGn3k9ZT_BHvOZO7phOl3EGv5Ju2cA6XyPKUaAitkUPuVazFg9hoKK-WZnNUffQZtnS5ekoRdAOiu6zRU1S7SlZZFtF0kk45UPvX3kK6j8M7ku933du2oj3oiiMJf1UpmdM8U/s1600/Damian+Scattini+Maurice+Blackburn.jpg" height="111" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damian Scattini - <br />Maurice Blackburn Lawyers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Damian Scattini, who has been managing the class action for Maurice Blackburn, rejected the criticisms, and said there were “terabytes of data” and a huge volume of material. “Whatever happens, the class action will continue and our clients will get their day in court. This application is no doubt the first of many such skirmishes we will go through .”<br />
<br />
Maurice Blackburn said in July that its international experts were highly confident the flooding from Wivenhoe Dam would have been almost completely avoided.<br />
<br />
The closed-door multimillion-dollar evidence-testing program by a team of US-based hydrologists retained by the law firm has been withheld from preliminary filings. The hydrologists who performed the work have also been shielded from public scrutiny.<br />
<br />
The total payout in the event of a success by the Maurice Blackburn-IMF combination could be as much as $2 billion to compensate South East Queensland families and businesses for their significant losses.<br />
<br />
Wrongdoing has been emphatically denied by the operators of Wivenhoe Dam.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/">www.theAustralian.com.au</a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc;">5.11.14</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-52250927671746297352014-07-08T12:19:00.001+10:002014-07-08T13:25:25.908+10:00Queensland floods class action to begin in NSW Supreme Court<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXbzQ5hpXuJJ9Hq3xvv9T5bS9AfmIRG0tqWN2HkCRB7PJddxp4t4jOpSZEmKSuZzT-vpMwkYq594ofouLTI6SKWQFmJi_SMSifk5yIn6y-tOLNGWSf41Z-82y_ra7ZMXScA8TaupDiSw/s1600/2011+Flood+Goodna+-+McDonalds+Store+Brisbane+Rd+Goodna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXbzQ5hpXuJJ9Hq3xvv9T5bS9AfmIRG0tqWN2HkCRB7PJddxp4t4jOpSZEmKSuZzT-vpMwkYq594ofouLTI6SKWQFmJi_SMSifk5yIn6y-tOLNGWSf41Z-82y_ra7ZMXScA8TaupDiSw/s1600/2011+Flood+Goodna+-+McDonalds+Store+Brisbane+Rd+Goodna.jpg" height="146" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
INTERNATIONAL experts are now highly confident that the flooding from Brisbane’s Wivenhoe Dam caused a disaster almost completely avoidable if the operators had not been negligent, prompting the filing in the NSW Supreme Court today of Australia’s largest and potentially most costly class action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The decision of legal firm Maurice Blackburn to definitely run the case for more than 4000 victims of the January 2011 floods that devastated South East Queensland homes and businesses follows a closed-door multimillion-dollar evidence-testing program by a team of United States-based hydrologists. It has so far cost the firm and its funder, Bentham IMF, millions of dollars and the costs are set to escalate sharply, while the potential payout for some 4000 signed-up flood victims would be met in part by a major insurer if the victims win the case.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The cost and damage suffered by South East Queensland families and businesses, many of them uninsured for the inundation of thousands of homes, means the payouts in the event of a success could be as much as $2 billion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The lead lawyer who has been managing the case, Damian Scattini, told The Australian today: “We know now that this was a disaster that didn’t have to happen. The data is very clear.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The evidence tells us that the rainfall that occurred was not a so-called ‘black swan’ event — we say that the rainfall that was forecast to fall actually fell, but the operators of the dam had not left any capacity in the dam to deal with it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“For whatever reason, probably because that was how Wivenhoe Dam had always done it, the operators just let the rainfall keep going into the dam in the weeks before January, and when it stopped raining they were going to drain it off. But this time, there was too much rain, and when they realised the dam was almost full and they had lost their buffer, they panicked and let it rip — they released these huge volumes quickly, and that was the Brisbane flood.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Australian’s reports and findings three years ago that the Wivenhoe-related flood was avoidable, and that it only occurred due to breaches of the operating manual, are conclusively supported by the international team of experts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The hydrology team working for Maurice Blackburn and its litigation funder, Bentham MF, will give evidence in the event of a trial in a New South Wales Supreme Court, where the case is filed today due to Queensland’s lack of a class action regime.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The operators of the Queensland government-owned Wivenhoe Dam have consistently denied any wrongdoing and emphatically rejected claims of negligence. They have been backed by Premier Campbell Newman, whose government inherited the flood debacle from former premier Anna Bligh. The Newman government tried to hose down potential litigation over the flood by commissioning its own study from US engineers in 2012 with restrictive terms of reference to prevent the adoption of adverse evidence.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A Queensland Royal Commission-style inquiry was forced to go back to public hearings and change its final report in early 2012 after The Australian discovered damning new evidence, resulting in the adverse findings that the operators were in the wrong dam-release strategy, failed to take into account forecast rainfall, and misled the Supreme Court judge running the probe. Mr Scattini said these findings were at “the core” of the legal case.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The people who have commented publicly and said everything was done properly are looking at the wrong facts, and they are just flat out wrong,” Mr Scattini said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We now have terabytes of data, a huge volume of material drawn from many sources, and we are sure of the facts.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr Scattini said the flood engineers failed repeatedly as far back as early December 2010 to properly operate Wivenhoe Dam and the smaller Somerset Dam, adding that Brisbane averted a catastrophe — the overtopping and collapse of Wivenhoe — which was on the cards due to the inaction of the operators.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said that from early December 2010 onwards the flood engineers failed repeatedly to adopt proper release strategies for both dams, despite continuing and serious official weather warnings of more heavy rain.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The legal action will allege negligence and nuisance against the operators of the dams — the “defendants’’ Seqwater, Sunwater and the State of Queensland, with the four flood engineers responsible for dam operations being employees of the defendants.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn and IMF Bentham will assert that the defendants owed those living and operating businesses downstream of Wivenhoe Dam a reasonable care to avoid the risk that a failure to properly operate the dams would cause greater flooding to areas downstream.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Commission of Inquiry found the flood engineers repeatedly failed to take into account forecasts issued by the Bureau of Meteorology which predicted heavy and prolonged rainfall.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Flood operations stopped altogether at a number of critical moments during the flood event — twice in December and once in early January, yet the flood event was ongoing and further heavy rainfall was predicted.</div>
<div class="story-body lead-media-none" data-sharing="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; line-height: 22px; min-height: 125px; overflow: visible; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="color: #333333;">
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/">www.theAustralian.com.au</a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">8 July 2014</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-32951625464139200562014-03-13T19:38:00.002+10:002014-03-13T19:51:14.012+10:00How to register for 2011 floods class action - Closing date is 11 April 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgG4KlnVJVKn1KTuOp3KoZb3i3i6tWw0D67r9r6nwl4MEASc0cz5UQ65ElHlj1HMFamm6wghKNiTjwfDD6QFhABkub7Fv8729sGUNA9JL9KGgg89A_n7WLNZ4hiKZ4sEdP4oo7nOZnHLnzCO7tixsuXlrF0BMKFRorD1WF0trw0N6pYRkUvEtQ=" width="320" /><br />
<b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Queensland 2011 Floods Class Action</span></b></b><br />
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn will be filing a class action in early 2014 seeking compensation for financial loss and damage caused by the negligent operation of Wivenhoe and Somerset dams during the January 2011 flood in South East Queensland.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The action will be funded by litigation funder, <a href="https://www.imf.com.au/Wivenhoe/default.aspx">Bentham IMF Limited</a> (formerly IMF Australia).</div>
<div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b> Registrations extended to 11 April 2014 </b></span><br />
<div>
<br />
<b> How do I register for the class action?</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>If you are a person or business affected by the January 2011 flood, and would like to register with us, visit <a href="http://www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe">www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe</a> or call 1800 016 464.</b></span><br />
<br />
Registration is free and without obligation. You are not retaining Maurice Blackburn as your lawyer by registering.<br />
<br />
We will contact you upon receiving your completed registration form to invite you to retain us as your lawyers with respect to your individual claim.<br />
<br />
You will need to retain us as your lawyers and enter into a litigation funding agreement with Bentham IMF Limited before 11 April 2014 in order to be represented in the class action.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b> What is the class action about?</b><br />
<br />
The class action will allege that the negligent operation of the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams in the lead up to and during the 2011 flood significantly contributed to the extent and the level of flooding downstream of the dams and created a flood that was much worse than it would have been if the dams had been operated competently.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry</b><br />
<br />
The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry was established on 17 January 2011 to examine the events surrounding the 2010/2011 flood events in South East Queensland.<br />
<br />
Maurice Blackburn played an important role in the Inquiry by representing residents of the community of Fernvale, which is located just below the Wivenhoe Dam.<br />
<br />
On 16 March 2012, the Commission delivered its final report. It found that Wivenhoe Dam had been operated in breach of the manual that governs its operation.<br />
<br />
Crucially, it was found that the dam operators had failed to use rainfall forecasts in making decisions about dam operating strategies. The Inquiry was also critical of the process by which strategies were selected.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Who is the class action against?</b><br />
<br />
The class action is being brought in negligence, against Seqwater, Sunwater and the State of Queensland. As the owner and operator of Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams, they had a duty to operate the dams competently in order to minimise the impact of dam releases downstream.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b> How were the dam operators negligent?</b><br />
<br />
The action will allege that the dam operators were negligent in, among other things: </div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>failing to use rainfall forecasts in making decisions about operating strategies, and </li>
<li>failing to preserve a reasonable amount of the dams' storage capacity in order to provide optimum protection of urbanised areas from inundation. </li>
</ul>
This negligent conduct, in addition to other conduct, contributed significantly to the downstream flooding experienced in Brisbane and Ipswich.</div>
<div>
<b><br /> How will the class action work?</b><br />
Class actions are generally brought by multiple people against the same defendant, where each person's claim arises out of the same or related circumstances.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b> How much will it cost to be part of the class action?</b><br />
<br />
The class action will be run on a no win - no fee basis. This means that you will not have to pay any fees unless the case is won. <span style="color: red;"><b>You cannot be ordered to pay the other side's costs if the action is unsuccessful.</b></span><br />
<br />
All costs and risk will be fully underwritten by Bentham IMF Limited. There are no out of pocket costs or risks to you.<br />
<br />
If the action is successful, the costs of the proceedings, which will include expert evidence fees, legal costs and interest, will be shared across the class.<br />
<br />
If the case is won, Bentham IMF Limited will be paid from the net settlement or judgment proceeds (that is after payment of costs). Bentham IMF Limited will receive up to 30 per cent of the net settlement or judgment proceeds.<br />
<br />
The details of the costs and funding arrangements are set out in full in our Retainer and in Bentham IMF Limited's litigation funding agreement which you will receive and have the opportunity to consider before committing to anything.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b> About Bentham IMF Limited</b><br />
<br />
Bentham IMF Limited is the largest and most successful litigation funder in Australia, having collected over $1.2 billion for clients. It is the first litigation funder to be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and has successfully sued the Commonwealth and the States in previous class actions. Together Bentham IMF Limited and Maurice Blackburn have been involved in the largest class action settlements in Australia.<br />
<br />
<b>What sort of damages can be awarded?</b><br />
<br />
The class action will be seeking damages for our clients for economic loss. The amount of damages will vary from person to person depending upon their individual circumstances.<br />
<br />
<b>The types of damages that can be claimed are as follows: </b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Damage caused to business, home, furniture or possessions </li>
<li>Financial loss caused as a result of business interruption during and after the flood </li>
<li>Costs associated with temporary relocation during flood repairs </li>
<li>Costs associated with rebuilding, cleaning or repairing flood damage, and </li>
<li>Costs associated with replacing lost or irreparably damaged possessions. </li>
<li>What sorts of damages are not being claimed?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>The types of damages that we will not be claiming for are as follows: </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Personal injury, or </li>
<li>Psychological harm. </li>
</ul>
If you wish to make a claim for damages for personal injury or psychological harm, you should seek urgent legal advice from another lawyer as strict time limits apply.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b> Who can join the class action?</b><br />
<br />
The class action will be brought on behalf of people who suffered loss or damage as a result of inundation by water in areas downstream of Wivenhoe Dam in the period between 9 and 24 January 2011.<br />
<br />
The action is open to anyone who has entered into a litigation funding agreement with Bentham IMF Limited and: </div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>leased, owned or otherwise held interest in property that was inundated with water and suffered loss or damage as a result of the inundation, or </li>
<li>held an interest in land that was inundated with water and whose use or enjoyment of the land was interfered with as a result of the inundation, or </li>
<li>owned personal property that was damaged by flood water, or </li>
<li>regularly conducted a business in an area that was inundated with water and suffered economic loss as a result of the inundation. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
How do I find out more about the class action?<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">To find out more about the class action, visit <a href="http://www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe">www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe</a> or call 1800 016 464.</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mauriceblackburn.com.au%2Fmedia%2F992382%2Fclassactions-floods.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgG4KlnVJVKn1KTuOp3KoZb3i3i6tWw0D67r9r6nwl4MEASc0cz5UQ65ElHlj1HMFamm6wghKNiTjwfDD6QFhABkub7Fv8729sGUNA9JL9KGgg89A_n7WLNZ4hiKZ4sEdP4oo7nOZnHLnzCO7tixsuXlrF0BMKFRorD1WF0trw0N6pYRkUvEtQ=" -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-44826823265843696712014-01-29T08:24:00.002+10:002014-03-12T23:45:26.135+10:00Last chance to sign up for floods class action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Td1FT8-F4t29xjNuXp_3e5E6qXoY1JF5deV7ZMmX7GzOhcGDKzEzQfow_6fsmthR_j62dUps6Dou1k71eDsPXL-3sBFyvezyVAUbevJQbpjE5gl6sq_J-sDKt9gjEUpuycJpyThlzBM/s1600/Class+Action+Logo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Td1FT8-F4t29xjNuXp_3e5E6qXoY1JF5deV7ZMmX7GzOhcGDKzEzQfow_6fsmthR_j62dUps6Dou1k71eDsPXL-3sBFyvezyVAUbevJQbpjE5gl6sq_J-sDKt9gjEUpuycJpyThlzBM/s1600/Class+Action+Logo+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
FLOOD victims in Ipswich have a month to sign up to be part of the $1 billion-plus class action against the Queensland Government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The class action is being put together by litigators Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bentham IMF, the litigation funders, have announced that they are unconditionally funding the case.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Victims of the 2011 floods have until April 11, to register.</div>
<br /><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span>
<span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gWzRH2XAl0N5it0SdCl_0j54k4SvWV3FYroM1rGg0lViHIaSnnU8T0gZwCXvBjnptisLWNe4NY_oqq5NAleG0V4dN3rMUbUGYP81iMbFb8dHYE-NsMBN2L7TxMGlVh5qFDDe9MjnliQ/s1600/photo-769357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gWzRH2XAl0N5it0SdCl_0j54k4SvWV3FYroM1rGg0lViHIaSnnU8T0gZwCXvBjnptisLWNe4NY_oqq5NAleG0V4dN3rMUbUGYP81iMbFb8dHYE-NsMBN2L7TxMGlVh5qFDDe9MjnliQ/s1600/photo-769357.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodna councillor Paul Tully urges flood victims to sign up<br />
for the class action before the 11 April deadline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Goodna councillor Paul Tully has urged all flood victims to get on board and sign up for the class action that will be held in the NSW Supreme Court.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cr Tully pointed out that under the arrangements of the class action there can be no costs awarded against flood victims if the action is unsuccessful.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"There is every prospect that flood victims will be fully recompensed, although it may take several years," he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"But this will be the final opportunity. After February 28 it will be too late for people to sign up.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The process is very simple and can be done online with Maurice Blackburn." Cr Tully said there were 600 properties flooded in Goodna alone with more thanl000 home owners, renters and business owners affected across Ipswich.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cr Tully said some people may not have signed up because they could be reticent about reliving the trauma of what happened three years ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"But what I say to people is that the case will be handled by professional lawyers in the NSW Supreme Court and it will be the court that makes the decision about whether individuals are entitled to compensation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"That will include damage to their property, damage to their personal possessions or loss of property value." Any person or business affected by the January 2011 flood can register for the class action at <a href="http://imf.com.au/wivenhoe">imf.com.au/wivenhoe</a> or call 1800 016464.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Registration is free and without obligation.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "UICTFontTextStyleBody","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="http://www.qt.com.au/">www.QT.com.au</a> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-59827500879055913572014-01-29T08:15:00.005+10:002014-03-14T10:42:32.677+10:00In 1974, Goodna faced its second biggest flood on record<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">The Queensland Times reported 40 years ago today on 29 January 1974:</span><br />
<div style="background-color: #faf9f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /><b> "RISING FLOODWATERS NEW THREAT TO GOODNA AREA". </b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #faf9f6; color: #0a1696; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfPVCsg-w0VRKFPJWhEzZMbAB5zHhjFyE5W6TGyhtItiJPBPf3sS0lKiM1ogOATqyIKVmatUpRlsW33DeM2adbm0dYR1_g90XkWv7XVUiakjPWEEp1afR7csuU5LQ3G8pZhPhk_PAPW67/s1600/Qld+Times+29.1.1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: purple; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfPVCsg-w0VRKFPJWhEzZMbAB5zHhjFyE5W6TGyhtItiJPBPf3sS0lKiM1ogOATqyIKVmatUpRlsW33DeM2adbm0dYR1_g90XkWv7XVUiakjPWEEp1afR7csuU5LQ3G8pZhPhk_PAPW67/s1600/Qld+Times+29.1.1974.jpg" height="320" style="border-width: 0px;" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Premier </span>Joh<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span>Bjelke<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">-Petersen arriving at Limestone Park<br /> in Ipswich greeted by (from left) Evan </span>Marginson<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> Member for </span>Wolston<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">, Vi Jordan Member for<br />Ipswich West, Ipswich Mayor George Hastings,<br /> Dr </span>Llew<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> Edwards (Member for Ipswich),<br /> Police Inspector J McCarthy and<br />Federal Member for </span>Oxley<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> Bill Hayden.</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0a1696; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br style="background-color: #faf9f6; color: #0a1696; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<div style="background-color: #faf9f6; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, the Brisbane River had already peaked and Goodna was spared a second deluge.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #faf9f6; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The picture shows the Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen arriving at Limestone Park in Ipswich greeted by (from left) Evan Marginson (Member for Wolston), Vi Jordan (Member for Ipswich West), Ipswich Mayor George Hastings, Dr Llew Edwards (Member for Ipswich), Police Inspector J McCarthy and Federal Member for Oxley Bill Hayden.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Incidentally, the price of the QT in 1974 was 8 cents and inside there was an advertisement for house and land at Churchill for $12,490 (full price).</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-90724970191641796832013-11-28T16:14:00.002+10:002013-11-28T16:20:07.257+10:00Maurice Blackburn class action announcement backed by flood victims <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Media Release</strong></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Ipswich City
Councillor Paul Tully<br />Maurice Blackburn class action announcement
backed by flood victims</strong> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41TJWo1Q_BsmvJgu_TIILOSk_BIusth77vyzirvUG5NrYlUM13mR94GlsAreLV2WMPC_12Pehzpuqr8vuExjg4D7OLA-5mtJACLh3q4Uevd3yo0Cy5cBmaBxJaUZwKi49U7hQlTb9TXk/s1600/Cr+Paul+Tully+-+High+Res+Pic+with+Border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41TJWo1Q_BsmvJgu_TIILOSk_BIusth77vyzirvUG5NrYlUM13mR94GlsAreLV2WMPC_12Pehzpuqr8vuExjg4D7OLA-5mtJACLh3q4Uevd3yo0Cy5cBmaBxJaUZwKi49U7hQlTb9TXk/s200/Cr+Paul+Tully+-+High+Res+Pic+with+Border.jpg" width="160" /></span></a></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cr Paul Tully</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flood victims in the Ipswich suburb of Goodna are backing today's announcement
of the Maurice Blackburn class action against the state government.<br />
<br />
Goodna was the hardest hit suburb in southeast Queensland in January 2011 with
600 flood-affected properties.<br />
<br />
Local councillor Paul Tully who lost his family home in the flood described
today's announcement as a "major ray of hope for all flood victims".<br />
<br />
Cr Tully urgent flood victims across Ipswich and Brisbane to sign up by the end
of February 2014 for the class action.<br />
<br />
"This is an opportunity for residents and business owners to be
compensated for their losses caused by the mismanagement of the Wivenhoe Dam in
2011."<br />
<br />
Cr Tully called on the state government to enter negotiations in good faith for
a settlement of the class action without the need for an expensive legal trial.<br />
<br />
"The state government must act as a model litigant to ensure all flood
victims are fairly compensated for their losses," Cr Tully said.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-73878846750526599892013-11-28T07:15:00.001+10:002013-11-28T07:16:10.192+10:00Class action modelling blames Wivenhoe Dam for flooding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
THE overwhelming majority of the 5000 homes and businesses signed up for a Brisbane 2011 floods class action now certain to go ahead would not have been inundated if Wivenhoe Dam had been operated competently, modelling by US experts shows.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The modelling shows 85 per cent of the properties would not have suffered any inundation in the floods, which were caused by massive releases from the dam.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- See more at: <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/class-action-modelling-blames-wivenhoe-dam-for-flooding/story-e6frgczx-1226770033793#sthash.AWSlscsC.dpuf">http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/class-action-modelling-blames-wivenhoe-dam-for-flooding/story-e6frgczx-1226770033793#sthash.AWSlscsC.dpuf</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/">www.TheAustralian.com.au</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;">28.11.13</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-67848342681439737782013-11-28T07:03:00.002+10:002013-11-28T07:03:49.027+10:00Flood victims given green light for class action over 2011 Brisbane and Bremer River floods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="196" src="http://media2.apnonline.com.au/img/media/images/2011/01/17/IQT_18-01-2011_NEWS_07_CHOP17L_fct499x307x69_t460.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wivenhoe Dam spillway.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
PREMIER Campbell Newman has taken a veiled swipe at the legal firm representing the thousands of Ipswich and Brisbane residents who are seeking compensation after their homes and businesses were flooded in 2011.</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Residents have been given the green light to launch a far-reaching class action claim after litigation backer IMF Australia and law firm Maurice Blackburn claim extensive modelling of the disaster revealed unnecessary flooding was caused by the negligent operation of Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So far, 5000 people have signed up, with claims against the Queensland Government, Sunwater and Seqwater totalling more than $1 billion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr Newman said on Wednesday (Nov 27) he hoped all those people who sign up read the fine print closely.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Everybody's entitled to mount a legal action in this country. That is what democracy and the legal system is all about," he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I just say to them that I hope that they have got a very clear deal with the legal firm or legal firms involved.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I would hate to see any sort of payout to them, if that ultimately happened, being gobbled up in legal fees."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn principal Damian Scattini said community meetings would be held in Ipswich and Brisbane, with the meetings to play an important role in helping to ensure registrants were properly informed of the next steps in the action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
EARLIER: THOUSANDS of Ipswich and Brisbane residents whose homes and businesses were damaged in the 2011 floods have been given the green light to launch a far-reaching class action claim next year.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Litigation backer IMF Australia and Maurice Blackburn say extensive modelling of the disaster has revealed the extent of unnecessary flooding caused by the negligent operation of Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So far, 5000 people have signed up, with claims against the Queensland Government, Sunwater and Seqwater totalling more than $1 billion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn principal Damian Scattini said community meetings would be held in Ipswich and Brisbane, with the meetings to play an important role in helping to ensure registrants were properly informed of the next steps in the action.</div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" src="http://media2.apnonline.com.au/img/media/images/2013/01/10/25-906900-ips110111mayo11_fct909x685x115_t639.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale stands on<br /> the River Heart parklands side of<br /> the Bremer River</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Anyone who was inundated and suffered loss during the 2011 flood of the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers may have a claim and should contact IMF to find out whether their property was unnecessarily flooded," he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"For most people, this was a flood that should not have happened if Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams had been operated properly.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We have put many months of work into this case and we are now ready to run this case and file a lawsuit after we give flood victims a final opportunity to join the claim."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Flood-affected residents have until February 28, 2014, to sign up.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meetings for registrants will be held on Sunday, December 15, at The Greek Club, South Brisbane, from 1pm, and on Monday, December 16, at the Metro Hotel International, Ipswich, from 7pm.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For more information about the meetings or to register for the floods class action visit:<a href="https://www.imf.com.au/Wivenhoe/default.aspx">imf.com.au/Wivenhoe/default.aspx</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.qt.com.au/">www.QT.com.au</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">28.11.13</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-48317221561442619882013-11-28T06:41:00.001+10:002013-11-28T06:44:45.243+10:00Class action sign-up deadline looms for 2011 Brisbane & Bremer River flood victims<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Td1FT8-F4t29xjNuXp_3e5E6qXoY1JF5deV7ZMmX7GzOhcGDKzEzQfow_6fsmthR_j62dUps6Dou1k71eDsPXL-3sBFyvezyVAUbevJQbpjE5gl6sq_J-sDKt9gjEUpuycJpyThlzBM/s1600/Class+Action+Logo+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Victims of the 2011 Brisbane and Bremer River floods have until 28 February 2014 to sign up for the planned class action proposed by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">This is an essential step for all potential claimants to sign up by that date in order to recover their losses from the man-made flood.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">The proposed class action is on a "non win, no fee" basis, meaning that residents who join the class action will not be out of pocket, even in the event the class action is not successful.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuoKXrsFKXvDt8jcNC69proRGP_eI6-mD5VpqK2jQPzIEFcSNENvxN-RtNxtu3Mh9wDY39uYZI_PkkwVqRQw1Octc7mBjLieCDR0AZwJ-AKWt0FeNO0Zs-IMBPVQyy3HZICUqg9KkTnU/s1600/Goodna+Meeting+Flood+Victims+19.3.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuoKXrsFKXvDt8jcNC69proRGP_eI6-mD5VpqK2jQPzIEFcSNENvxN-RtNxtu3Mh9wDY39uYZI_PkkwVqRQw1Octc7mBjLieCDR0AZwJ-AKWt0FeNO0Zs-IMBPVQyy3HZICUqg9KkTnU/s1600/Goodna+Meeting+Flood+Victims+19.3.2012.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting at Goodna with Maurice Blackburn<br />
Lawyers and local Councillor Paul Tully.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Meetings are being held by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Meetings for registrants will be held on:<br /><br /><b>December 15 at The Greek Club, South Brisbane, from 1pm,</b> and on<br /><br /><b>December 16 at the Metro Hotel International, Ipswich,</b> from 7pm.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;">For more information, or to register for the class action, visit:</span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe" style="color: #21a62f; text-decoration: none;"><b>www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe</b></a> or call <b>1800 016 464</b>.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538346245707617498.post-71075747355405929832013-11-28T06:26:00.002+10:002013-11-28T06:28:16.715+10:00Class action lawsuit accusing State Government of negligence in 2011 floods will go ahead next year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="180" src="http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/11/27/1226769/508888-f29f5882-5701-11e3-8753-b885d06300c5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A class-action lawsuit will be filed against the State<br /> Government early next year, alleging dam<br /> mismanagement in the lead-up to <br />flooding in southeast Queensland <br />in 2011. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A class-action lawsuit accusing the Queensland Government of negligence in the flooding of southeast Queensland residents will be filed early next year, following a February 28 deadline for people to sign up for the action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Law firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF Australia announced their plans this morning, ending months of uncertainty about whether the suit would proceed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The law firm says its experts believe much of the damage from 2011 flooding could have been avoided if the Wivenhoe dam had been operated properly.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The state has denied dam engineers were at fault, saying they did all they could do to mitigate flooding during huge rainfalls in the catchments.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a statement, IMF Australia Executive Director, John Walker, said that extensive modelling of the 2011 flood has identified the extent of the "unnecessary flooding".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The modelling gives IMF the certainty it needs to commit the millions of dollars required for this claim to proceed," Mr Walker said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It has been a long road to this point but we are very pleased now to be able to say the action will go ahead," he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maurice Blackburn Principal Damian Scattini said community meetings would be held in Ipswich and Brisbane, with the meetings to play an important role in helping to ensure registrants were properly informed of the next steps in the action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The statement of claim for the class action will be filed at the earliest opportunity next year, but we first want to provide people registered in the class action with case updates as we have always promised to do," Mr Scattini said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"There will be a final opportunity for residents and businesses not yet signed up to the action to do so before 28 February 2014. In order to participate in the class action, you must sign up before this date. The claim will be filed following this deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Anyone who was inundated and suffered loss during the 2011 flood of the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers may have a claim and should contact IMF to find out whether their property was unnecessarily flooded."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We take the privilege of representing residents and businesses impacted by the 2011 flood very seriously - we have put many months of work into this case and we're now ready to run this case and file a lawsuit after we give flood victims a final opportunity to join the claim," Mr Scattini said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Premier Campbell Newman was not immediately available for comment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b style="text-align: justify;"><b>Meetings:</b></b><b></b><br />
<b>
</b>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meetings for registrants will be held on:<br />
<br />
<b>December 15 at The Greek Club, South Brisbane, from 1pm</b>, and on <br />
<b><br />December 16 at the Metro Hotel International, Ipswich, from 7pm</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For more information, or to register for the class action visit <a href="http://www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe">www.imf.com.au/wivenhoe</a> or call 1800 016 464.</div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/">www.CourierMail.com.au</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">27.11.13</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com