Brisbane flood case appealed to High Court in class action
The case against the Government-owned dam operator Seqwater’s role in the 2011 floods could be heading to the High Court after class action lawyers lodged an appeal to a NSW court decision.
The Brisbane floods case has been appealed to the High Court (photo: BoM)
It follows a 2019 decision by the NSW Supreme Court that Sunwater and Seqwater had acted negligently and had contributed to the disaster which flooded Brisbane.
Compensation of almost $900 million to 6500 victims was ordered.
However, that decision was overturned on appeal.
Today, lawyers Omni Bridgeway said an application had been lodged with the High Court to appeal the NSW court’s decision.
It said a decision on whether the High Court would hear the appeal was not likely to be known until next year and if successful, it would probably be heard in 2023.
“If the application is granted and the high Court appeal is successful, not all of the findings of the first instance decision would be reinstated due to the scope of the appeal,’’ the law firm said.
The appeal only involves Seqwater after Sunwater settled with victims earlier this year.
