By Blake O’Connor and Ugur Nedim Prosecutors in NSW are required to follow a range of rules, which include duties of fairness and disclosure to the defence. They are meant to act to a high ethical standard in the performance of their duties, recognising that a well-resourced prosecution carries immense power over those whose liberty… Read more »
Posts Categorized: NSW Courts
Basic Steps in a NSW Jury Trial
Clients charged with serious criminal offences whose cases proceed to a higher court – such as the District or Supreme Court – are often ‘in the dark’ about the steps involved in a jury trial. And why wouldn’t they be? Television shows often depict a dramatic trial consisting of a little cross-examination (almost always involving… Read more »
Make Me an SC!
Being appointed ‘silk’ or Senior Counsel (SC) is the ‘Holy Grail’ for barristers. It allows them to charge a lot more for their services and gives them a certain ‘cache’ as standing out as the most respected in their profession. Needless to say, the stakes to attain the rank of Senior Counsel are high. Every… Read more »
Frequent Fiddler Sues for Dashed Dreams
By Mathew Drogemuller and Ugur Nedim In an extraordinary NSW Supreme Court case, a Chinese Businessman is suing North Sydney based escort agency, Royal Court Escorts, for $3.7 million. Wealthy businessman Yu ‘Martin’ Xu has a penchant for sex with famous international A-listers. He allegedly paid millions to Royal Escorts to sleep with actress Megan… Read more »
Unlawful Removal of Testicle
It seems the exorbitant cost of medical treatment in NSW has caused one man to take drastic action. A 52-year-old Port Macquarie man suffering the effects of being kicked in the ‘family jewels’ by a horse – and being unable to afford the recommended procedure – decided to find a more affordable option. In early May,… Read more »
Justice for Workers: 7-Eleven Ordered to Pay More Than $400k
A Brisbane businessman will have to pay more than $400,000 after a court found he had been grossly underpaying workers at his West End 7-Eleven convenience store. Sheng-Chieh Lo, who owns a store at the centre of a wider investigation into systemic exploitation of workers by 7-Eleven, has been penalised $68,058 personally, and his company,… Read more »
Never Trust a Beetle: Volkswagen Back before the Federal Court
With one of its Australian class action lawsuits back before the Federal Court in coming weeks, sceptics say Volkswagen’s announcement that it will launch a fleet of electric cars is just a PR stunt. And with law suits still underway in the US, the company has a long way to go before the global emissions… Read more »
Parcel Bomber Faces Parramatta Local Court
A handsome British TV host, a sexy Penthouse pet, her body-builder boyfriend, a mystery package containing a bomb and a faked death are at the centre of this 18-year old murder mystery that came before Parramatta Local Court over the weekend. Roberto de Heredia, a former Foxtel Shopping Network presenter, has been extradited back to… Read more »
I’m Gonna Kill Him! Threats Made Through Third Parties
By Matthew Drogemuller and Ugur Nedim Intimidation-type offences have been enacted to prohibit the making of threats towards the personal safety of others. For instance, section 60(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) makes it an offence to assault, throws a missile at, stalk, harass or intimidate a police officer who is in the execution… Read more »
No Court for You! Facebook Litigant May Be Banned from Suing
The NSW Attorney-General has applied to have a Sydney man declared a ‘vexatious litigant’ after he launched numerous and repeated court actions against his neighbours, leaving them with tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills. Nader Mohareb is best known for legal action against his Scotland Island neighbour Matthew Palmer, who he sued for… Read more »