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The Herald
March 23, 2002
ACC claims soar after sex-abuse leaflet
NZPA
At least 3000 new sexual-abuse claims have been
laid since a Christchurch law firm began
touting for business from victims, forcing ACC to take on eight new staff.
Claims to ACC have increased from 100 a week to 500 a week since Wakefield
Associates' controversial national mail-out in January.
The firm offered to help sexual-abuse victims claim up to $175,000 in
compensation in return for a commission from any payout.
The deluge of extra claims this generated stretched resources within ACC's
sensitive-claims unit and prompted warnings of claims by stressed staff. It
has already had to take on three new staff to process claims and is boosting
the dozen or so case managers by another five.
The ACC has complained to the Law Society over the content of the pamphlet,
which it says is "appalling".
ACC chief executive Garry Wilson has said a "hysterical" edge to
publicity about lump sums had occurred, and the leaflet had disturbed
sexual-abuse victims.
An administrator has been hired on a one-year contract to handle inquiries,
and two new temporary workers enter the data into computers.
From April 1, accident victims and sex-abuse victims will again be able to
claim lump sums, which were abolished in 1992. The lump sums will replace the
independence allowance and be worth up to $100,000 on a sliding scale.
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