In February and March 2022, Lismore, a town in New South Wales, Australia, was flooded when the Wilsons River reached its highest level in recorded history. The floods destroyed most of the town, leaving many residents destitute.

In partnership with Justice Connect, White & Case lawyers in Melbourne and Sydney helped community members with the administrative process of rebuilding their lives. Our lawyers assisted with two matters involving residents of properties that were destroyed and subsequently contaminated by diesel spilled during the flooding.

Contamination cases are complex and can be lengthy, especially after a natural disaster in which it is possible that no one was at fault. "Part of the value we bring is a commitment to the entire case from start to finish, and the determination to support individuals and communities who continue to be impacted long after the news cycle has moved on," says Michelle Keen, partner in our Melbourne office.

In one matter we helped a resident with his flood-related insurance claim, securing a payment equal to the maximum value of his insurance coverage. He is now awaiting government assistance for the clean up of contaminated land.

In the second matter our client was uninsured, and she and her children have health conditions that make it unlikely they will be able to return to the contaminated property. Having lost their home—and rental income from a workshop that was part of their property—they are now living in temporary emergency accommodations. We wrote to the New South Wales agency managing the emergency accommodation to support her application for priority permanent housing given the family's health needs.

"Our assistance enables our clients to start putting their lives back together," says Kate Perumal, partner in our Sydney office. "Knowing that people are listening and investing in them gives some comfort and support at a very difficult time in their lives. And for us, providing this support is a really rewarding and empowering response to these ongoing natural disasters."

Photo by Brendan McCarthy © AAP
Crews work to sandbag a river near Lismore, Australia.