Benton Legal

Barrister and solicitor. Specialist abuse redress lawyer.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/rNxgTdezwM

An independent review that limits any consultation with affected key stakeholders - whether through a decision of the reviewer or limits on its terms of reference - is not a robust or independent review. It is lip service, white-washing walls.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/0cyKeibjQn

“Human Dignity Is Not Conditional”: SNAP Aotearoa Slams Government Redress Bill.

[Sam Sherwood @SamSherwoodNZ]

St Bede's commissions investigation as former priest jailed for sexual abuse https://t.co/S0aiuGncnM

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/NHn0jHxunG

Another careless privacy breach with hugely devastating effects.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

Former St Bede's priest jailed for sexual abuse of boys https://t.co/tsjFftOgny

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

Finally, there is a vague reference to a Catholic-wide redress scheme. How do survivors know whether to wait for that scheme to see if their offer would improve? Offers now should be made subject to a potential top-up if the Catholic-wide scheme leads to a better outcome.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

Yesterday, the NZ Marist Brothers made a formal public apology to survivors of abuse - https://t.co/zjia1ZuoJD
The apology was boycotted by a number of survivors and advocates - https://t.co/8XrgOhMPbw

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

There are some real improvements, including increase of quantum and considering claims that don't fall within A Path to Healing. Most significantly, an average payment of $50,000 for sexual abuse.

This is still nowhere near the amounts the Royal Commission recommended, however.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

It is good that they are finally acknowledging the need to cover legal fees as well, although what that looks like in practice remains to be seen.

It will be interesting to see if the Marist Brothers will be more open to accepting claims it has previously rejected.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

I have specialised in abuse redress claims for 14 years and the Marist Brothers have always had one of the worst responses of any organisation, both in terms of rejecting valid claims and in the settlement offers themselves.

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/Kmnt3qwXy1

Ombudsman publishes findings on Ministry of Education sensitive claims scheme - parts of the scheme are unreasonable. “It has taken far too long to process claims and there have been unjustifiable delays before the Ministry published information...”

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/70o8gCBuve

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

MSD not following its own policy in three abuse in care cases court rules https://t.co/Us73N3NupZ

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/WsA5IFaPge

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/ypxhl93x1L

Rosslyn Noonan, former Chief Human Rights Commissioner: "senior officials in the MSD, Oranga Tamariki, education, health and justice... refused to acknowledge the widespread abuse of children and vulnerable adults in care when survivors came forward..."

[Cooper Legal @CooperLegal]

A fourteenth arrest has been made under Operation Beverly, the investigation into historical sexual offending at Dilworth School.

https://t.co/pmEEnGWICK

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

https://t.co/S7xMEeXRYf

[Benton Legal @BentonLegal]

Marist Brothers abuse apology an ‘insult’ without compensation for Pacific survivors, says advocate.

https://t.co/VVHdQGcatk