16 July 2009

High Court vs Eve Brighty

| johnboy
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The High Court is currently dispersed across the countryside while efforts are made to save the building here in Canberra.

But the Brisbane Times has an intriguing tale of Eve Brighty who was hired to be a PA to Justice Susan Kiefel.

    Ms Brighty fell ill just three days after starting the job at the High Court.

    She says she experienced chest pains and was taken to hospital.

    When her doctor cleared her to return to work about four weeks later, she says the court’s human resources department told her the judge no longer needed a PA in Canberra and wanted the work done in Brisbane.

    “I was presented with a deed to sign, agreeing to resign from my position in return for six months’ pay,” Ms Brighty said.

    “I was forced to sign under duress as I had a mortgage to pay, and no lawyer I approached wanted to take on the High Court,” Ms Brighty said.

The court denies it has done anything wrong.

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Another ‘think’ coming? Seriously? May not be that easy for her to find another (good) job…

Ohhh geez – I heard this lady on the radio – her quotes:

“I’d like to be the voice for the people who don’t have a voice and I think if they thought they were going to be able to sweep me under the carpet, they’ve got another think coming,” she said.

“Because I will be a voice for the people who don’t have a voice, and I won’t stop until I get justice.”

Fine – if you want to be a ‘voice for the people with no voice’ then give your six months pay back.

Then you can represent those who are dismissed after injury with sweet FA.

ThePirateKing2:08 pm 17 Jul 09

Anyone who has dealt with the High Court bureacracy would suspect that the fault is almost definitely theirs. With a few exceptions the High Court building is like one big shrine to the Peter Principle.

Still, you’ve gotta think she protests too much. Just a note on lawyers though, when a company I worked for had a business dispute with the High court there were QCs lining up to represent us pro bono so that they could name the Chief Justice in a writ and make a splash.

It’s the vibe, it’s Mabo…

Morgan said :

Oh poor me, I got two months pay for each day I worked there.

Oh please.

Exactly. Besides, someone who can get a spot as EA of a High Court Judge shouldn’t have any trouble getting another job!

What would happen if she took the High Court to court for unfair dismissal or whatever and then the appeal ended up in the high court? Any legal eagles know the answer to this?

Oh poor me, I got two months pay for each day I worked there.

Oh please.

“no lawyer I approached wanted to take on the High Court” = all the lawyers said I had no case.

99% of lawyers never get near the High Court. They wouldn’t care who they were suing if the case was good.

I don’t know what she is complaining about.

Six months is massive. After a year and a half I got six weeks, and thought that was good.

Seems that the High Court has more money than they know what to do with if they are paying people out so generously. If I was in her shoes, I’d take the money and run, and go find another job. She just got 6 months’ pay for nothing.

They should have told her, your job’s in Brisbane now, go there if you want it still, and if you don’t want to, you’re redundant here, and paid out standard redundancy terms.

She got offered a six month redundancy after three days at work! Not a bad little pick up I reckon.

Suck it up lady – circumstances change and you’ve been more than adequately compensated. Most public servants only get 2 weeks for each year of service….

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