Finish 2024 with a roundup of recent decisions on public liability, workers compensation appeals and a review of recent assessment of damages cases together including an expert analysis of effective presentation of workers ’compensation appeals.

Presenters

Brian Nugawela, Barrister, Michael Kirby Chambers
Brian presents at Legalwise Seminars events on torts, psychiatric injury and workers' compensation. Brian's practice areas include tort law (including professional negligence); workers’ compensation and Comcare, general civil and commercial litigation, Insurance disputes (including income protection and TPD insurance) and appeals (including some criminal appeals). Brian is a member of Michael Kirby Chambers and has appeared at all levels of the judicial hierarchy, from doing tribunal work to appeals in the High Court of Australia.


Michelle Antunovich, Director, Trewin Norman & Co
Michelle Antunovich joined Trewin Norman in 2020 and following previous leadership roles at two national firms, took up a directorship from 1 July 2020. Michelle graduated from Murdoch University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After completing her honours thesis studying the “helping behaviour” of humans, she took time off to travel before starting her career in personal injury law. Michelle was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of WA in 2009 and to the High Court of Australia in 2011. She has worked on a wide range of personal injury claims since being admitted into practice, including catastrophic injury claims, fatal accident claims, motor vehicle and workplace injury claims, public liability claims, and claims for victims of crime.


Hayley Cormann, Barrister, Quayside Chambers
Hayley joined Quayside Chambers in 2019, after 13 years in commercial, professional negligence and health law litigation at the Perth office of Clayton Utz. She is briefed across a wide variety of general commercial and insurance disputes, personal injury and professional negligence claims including from the healthcare and legal sectors, and in regulatory and disciplinary work in both the health and legal professions. Hayley is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2012), and a Board Member of the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation. In 2018, she served as President of the Law Society of Western Australia, representing the interests of more than 3,000 members of the legal profession. Until 2019, Hayley was a member of the Society’s Professional Indemnity Insurance Management Committee, a member of the Society’s Ethics Committee, and a Director of the Law Access Board.


Neil Morrissey, Barrister, Central Law Chambers
Growing up on a remote pastoral property, Neil broke family tradition by choosing a career in the legal profession. Neil's practice is predominantly in the area of civil litigation with a focus on personal injuries cases. Prior to joining the independent bar he was a solicitor at Bradford & Co. In 2013 Neil completed a Master of Laws at the University of Western Australia with his primary research area being negligence liability. Neil is a LexisNexis Author co-authoring Practical Guidance for the Western Australian Supreme and District Courts. Neil's notable cases include New South Wales v DC [2017] HCA 22 (led) (abuse of minors), Engine Protection Equipment Pty Ltd v Miller [2018] WASCA 55 (workers' compensation), Cullen v Woodside Energy Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 56 (workers' compensation), Gentle v Wright [2021] WADC 63 (landlord and tenant), Jenner v Mundrabilla Roadhouse Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 59 (occupiers' liability), RLA Morgans v Vrebac [2022] WADC 86 (workers' compensation/statutory construction), Delgado v Bevchain Pty Limited [2022] WADC 98 (discovery) and Praetz v Sodexo Australia Pty Ltd [2023] WADC 48 (pleadings). Neil is the current Western Australian State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. Outside of work Neil is a qualified aerial mustering pilot and has spent time mustering in the East Kimberley region and in the Northern Territory.