Justice David Hammerschlag of the NSW Supreme Court has a way with words that readily lends itself to dramatic courtroom headlines. The “Hammer,” as he is known, also pulls no punches and is quick with one liners that keep counsel on their toes. Here, Lawyerly looks at some of the recent best moments inside courtroom 7D.
QBE Underwriting has defended its decision to deny insurance coverage to the builder of Sydneyâs troubled Opal Tower development, claiming the cracking was not âmajorâ and did not cause last yearâs Christmas Eve evacuation.
The defendants in the Sydney Opal Tower class action have been formally banned from contacting represented group members about their claims while the proceeding remains on foot, after communications were allegedly sent to apartment owners.
A court has thrown out a breach of contract claim brought by two subsidiaries of property developer Minster Group against National Australia Bank, but found the bank must face a $1.2 million unconscionability claim over allegedly excessive fees.
The NSW government’s Sydney Olympic Park Authority, which is facing a class action brought by owners of apartments at the troubled Opal Tower, has laid the blame on the developer, designer and builder behind the project.
The law firm behind multiple government class actions over major construction projects, including the Sydney Light Rail proceeding, is investigating a new case against a Melbourne council after a major development allegedly left local businesses struggling to survive.
At caretaker at a Sydney private school has been awarded $3.1 million in damages after he was seriously injured in a workplace gas explosion, with five defendants including building contractors, certifiers and gas suppliers all found to be equally liable.
A former BlueScope global health and safety manager wants to add an indirect gender discrimination claim to his employment case against the steel giant, alleging he was overlooked for a senior role because the company wanted to fill its diversity quota.
A judge has ordered engineering services firm CIMIC Group to pay the costs of a 2017 attempt to stay a competing class action against it, saying the bid was one the company “could never have successfully prosecuted”.
The liquidator appointed to investigate a class action over Walton Construction’s collapse is now looking to file his own case against National Australia Bank, the company’s former director, and the restructuring firm hired before the construction company’s demise.