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WA barrister wins national Civil Justice Award
18th Oct 2024
A West Australian barrister who is a committed and effective advocate for people who have suffered injury and abuse has won a national award for justice.
Mr Tim Hammond SC has been awarded the Australian Lawyers Alliance’s (ALA) national Civil Justice Award for 2024. Mr Hammond was presented with the award during the ALA’s National Conference being held in Fremantle today.
“Tim is a truly deserving recipient of our annual Civil Justice Award,” said Ms Michelle James, National President, ALA. “He is an excellent example of a legal professional who uses his skills and expertise to improve the lives of others every day.
“He focuses on representing victims of asbestos disease and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse but his broad commitment to defending the rights of individuals reaches more broadly.
“Tim is an advocate for the development of a justice system which is fair and equitable, and since 2013 he has conducted a practice for Aboriginal people living in remote communities and helped develop new and innovative procedures to resolve motor vehicle accidents that occur on country.”
Mr Hammond SC acted pro bono on behalf of the family of Aishwarya Ashwarth in the inquest into her death at Perth Children’s Hospital. This inquest resulted in the coroner making five recommendations for improvements to the WA health system.
“Tim has devoted his career to working alongside people who have needed to fight for the restitution and justice they deserve, and we are very pleased to recognise this work today,” said Ms James.
Recent significant cases for Mr Hammond SC include:
- Lawrence v Province Leader of the Oceania Province of the Congregation of the Christian Brothers [2020] – first case to run to judgment in a sexual abuse case in WA and first successful judgment against the Christian Brothers
- Kneale v Footscray Football Club [2023] VSC 679 – highest damages awards for a sexual abuse case in Australia and first jury verdict for a sexual abuse survivor
- Parkin v Amaca Pty Ltd [2020] WASC 306 – highest general damages award for a mesothelioma case in Western Australia.
- Martin v Amaca Pty Ltd (Supreme Court Qld 14524 of 2023) – first jury verdict in a mesothelioma case in Queensland and a record general damages award in a mesothelioma case in Australia
Since 1996, the ALA has awarded the national Civil Justice Award to an individual or organisation who has made a significant contribution to the pursuit of civil justice in Australia. Previous recipients of the ALA’s Civil Justice Award include former prime minister Malcolm Fraser AC, Indigenous rights activist Eddie Mabo, lawyer Bernard Collaery and politician Andrew Wilkie MP.
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