Szabo & Associates News & Updates

We recently wrote about a significant case that had reached the High Court (“Who’s the Daddy”? Sperm Donor’s Parental Dispute Reaches the High Court). This case has been widely reported and, on the 19 June 2019, the High Court delivered its decision.

In the case of Elford & Elford (2016), the Full Family Court dismissed the appeal of a wife who was seeking an increase from the 10% of the $1.4m asset pool she had been awarded, on separation, to 32%. A large part of the pool consisted of a lottery win of her husband. The wife, on appeal, argued that the Federal Circuit Court trial judge had incorrectly decided that the lottery win was a contribution by the husband rather than a “joint contribution” of them both.

The Federal Circuit Court of Australia recently had to consider whether it should make property orders in respect of a relationship that had lasted just 14 months. Adesso & Payton (2019) involved a pilot and an unemployed woman who was caring for a child of a previous relationship.

A recent decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court, Wingecarribee Shire Council v Uri Turgeman t/a Uri Design (2018) provided a reminder of the factors that will be considered by the Court when challenging a development after the expiry of the appeal period.

In March 2019, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on an alleged $40 million corporate fraud investigation instigated on claims by a whistleblower within National Australia Bank. The alleged, a company director, was arrested and charged with over 50 bribery and corruption offences. It follows a 12-month investigation by the state’s financial crimes squad.