In focus: Personal injuries

Tuesday 24 August 2010, 8:00am–9:40am
Law Society House, 179 Ann Street
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Seminar DVD (Resource code: 100824A)
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Overview

Professional Skills 1.5 CPD points

This short seminar will look at the past, present and future of the WorkCover scheme, the changing landscape of civil liability resulting from the Civil Liability and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2010, and provide practical guidance on how to make the most of the MAIA and PIPA compulsory conferences.

Course code: 100824A

8:00am–8:20am
WorkCover – past, present and future

Responses to the Queensland Government’s discussion paper ‘The Queensland Workers’ Compensation Scheme: Ensuring Sustainability and Fairness’ closed on 24 March 2010. The discussion paper raises concerns about the cost of the WorkCover scheme and reviews the function of the scheme. In considering these issues the following points will be addressed:

  • taking an historical perspective of WorkCover
  • understanding the background to the discussion paper
  • looking to the future – exploring the possible reforms
  • Speaker: Janine Reid – Manager – Common law, WorkCover Queensland
  • Speaker: Adam Tayler – Legal Practitioner Director, Workers First Australia Pty Ltd
8:20am–8:40am
The changing landscape of civil liability

The provisions of Civil Liability and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2010 received royal assent on 17 March 2010 and have made significant changes to damages, dust related claims and limitation periods in addition to introducing spouse’s remedies for loss of impairment and consortium. This session considers these key provisions which affect lawyers practising in the area of personal injuries and looks at:

  • the removal of limitation periods for dust-related conditions
  • outlining the increased schedule of general damages which will apply to injuries arising from 1 July 2010
  • applying indexation of threshold amounts for injuries arising on or after 1 July 2010
  • restricting awards of interest on awards in certain circumstances
  • circumstances which may allow for urgent proceedings to be commenced
  • Speaker: Ashley Jones – Partner, Norton Rose
8:40am–9:40am
Making the most of the MAIA & PIPA compulsory conferences
Professional Skills

Providing guidance on preparing for and conducting a compulsory conference this practical session considers:

  • understanding the steps to take in preparation for the conference
  • ensuring all documents are exchanged
  • exploring actions you can take to make the conference as successful as it can be
  • advice on how you can take a non-adversarial approach at the conference
  • making offers during the conference
  • complying with sections 39 and 40 – mandatory final offers
  • mandatory final officers verses UCPR offer – tactics to use

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