More fun with costs

Court in the Act    Monday, July 22, 2024

Motor car accident … No real challenge as to liability … $1,699.69 in dispute for rear end repair bill … Plaintiff ordered to pay 95% of the legal costs – currently at $150,000 … Prize for astounding damages to costs ratio … Anthony Kanaan report

 

Something for true believers

Books    Saturday, July 20, 2024

Things you should know about the Australian Labor Party Nick … History … Tensions … Triumphs … Splits … Where are the working class MPs? … Braham Dabscheck reviews Dyrenfurth & Bongiorno’s A Little History Of The Australian Labor Party … Rats in the ranks

 

Planet’s pin-up girl

Court in the Act    Friday, July 12, 2024

Linda Reynolds’ pleadings … Brittany Higgins’ defence is yet to appear from behind the curtain … Slow process at the WA Supremes … High drama over a few social media posts …”Plan” to bring down the government … Selective reporting from the usual suspects … Pointers to the cover-up … Sandy Groper reports from Perth

 

Jail lingo

Books    Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Prison patois … Underworld lexicography … Important contribution to Australian English … Wordologists’ delight … Bruce Moore’s The 1972 Parramatta Jail Glossary … Reviewed by Linda Funnell

 

Epistle from Torrenside

PROCRUSTES    Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Latest additions to the Federales … Breeding ground for the Saloon … Needham and McDonald JJ … South Australian CJs who spurned the High … John Bray CJ – selected poems and ornamental bird bath … Crow Eaters … Procrustes files

 

Reign of Terror

Roger Fitch Esq    Friday, July 5, 2024

SCOTUS … Shocker decisions from the latest term … The Trump Docket … Presidential immunity … Gratuities and bribes … Obstruction … Admin law trashed … Criminalising the homeless … Espionage Act – two sides of the coin for Assange and Trump … At last, someone convicted at Guantánamo of a real war crime … Roger Fitch reports from Washington

 

Anything goes

Court in the Act    Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Solicitor changes lanes … Warned client of possible conflict … VicSupremes says “go ahead” … Legal Services Commissioner on standby … Plus … Plundering clients’ estates for personal expenses … More than $2 million AWOL from Wollongong law shop … Derolling after time served … Anthony Kanaan reports

 

The election season

City Desk    Tuesday, July 2, 2024

The case for compulsory voting … Pity the Brits, French and Americans where politicians have to “get out the vote” … Nathan Twibill on the advantages of the “median voter” strategy … Vote early, vote often