'We call it safety planning': A trauma-informed approach to litigation

We normally focus on the tense negotiations and courtroom battles between plaintiff lawyers and defendants. For our clients, however, that's just one aspect of a compensation claim. Many are dealing with complex trauma, and the justice system is full of triggers. In the final episode of season two,…

It began in Hollywood, but #MeToo isn't just for celebrities

When Perlita Golding moved to Australia from the Philippines, the single mother began working at a Brisbane laundromat. She had limited English and needed enough shifts to support her family. Her boss, Ian Sippel, took advantage of Perlita's vulnerable position. But when Perlita took her case to th…

'It's a national crisis': The dirty secret behind your kitchen benchtop

A cheaper alternative to marble and granite, engineered stone is an increasingly popular choice for Australians looking to renovate their kitchens and bathrooms. Once it's installed, it poses no risk to your health. But the workers who manufacture the stuff on the factory floor are getting sick. Si…

Why universities are facing lawsuits over sexual assaults on campus

In June 1990, Caitlyn was studying at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales. One night, as Caitlyn was asleep, a man entered her room in St Alberts college and raped her. It turns out Caitlyn wasn't the first female student to be sexually assaulted by the man. So why wasn't any…

'Are you my mother?' Joanna's search for belonging

Joanna Davies was five years old when she learned she was adopted. What she didn’t know was that her birth mother, Lorraine, wanted to keep her. She had signed the paperwork under duress. Lorraine was one of thousands of young, unmarried women whose babies were taken from them without their consent…

Doctors thought Chrys was braindead until he gave them a thumbs-up

When Chrys Barker suffered brain injuries in a car crash, his parents were told he would never recover. The insurer for the at-fault driver wanted Chrys, who was in his twenties, to be placed into an aged care home for the rest of his life. But his father, Allan, disagreed. He could see a fire in C…

An injury cost Maria her job, home, and marriage - then she fought back

Maria Allport was in a warehouse, packing stock for Aldi supermarkets when she hurt her back. Nothing some painkillers and rest won't fix, she thought. But as it turns out, Maria had sustained serious spinal injuries. She didn't know it at the time, but her life was about to unravel.  In the first…

Coming soon: Restitution season two

When you find yourself injured through no fault of your own. When someone takes something from you without your consent. When your quality of life is diminished and nobody is taking responsibility. Where do you draw the line?  Restitution is a show about people who’ve been wronged and the lawyers …

Blood, sweat and tears: A country man sues his employer

We don’t like to think about where our meat comes from. And with good reason: abattoirs are gruesome places. But for Paul Draper, mincing meat on the factory floor of KR Darling Downs wasn’t just unpleasant, it was unsafe. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of how a violent workplace accident f…

McMatch & Lose: A high stakes class action goes wrong

Remember the McMatch & Win promotion at Maccas? In 1998, the fast-food giant gave Aussies the chance to win prizes like cars, trips to Disneyland and computers by collecting stamps attached to food packaging. In the first year, the promotion went off without a hitch. But in 1999, a big problem emer…