ACC comments on Estate Lehmann High Court decision
4 June 2005
Media Release
ACC comments on Estate
Lehmann High Court decision
The finding in ACC's favour by the High Court in the Lehmann case clarifies the law on lump sum compensation.
Justice Goddard has carefully weighed all the legal arguments and concluded in her reserved decision: 'On the law as it presently stands, claimants such as Mr Lehmann are precluded from entitlement to lump sum compensation and are entitled only to an independence weekly allowance for their lifetime. If there is a perceived injustice in that situation, then it is an injustice that can only be remedied by legislative amendment.'
ACC has always advised claimants affected by the Estate Lehmann case of the possibility that they might have to re-pay their lump sums. The repayment issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the ACC Board.
ENDS