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This page last updated April 7 2005
2005-0407 - NZ Herald -
Law firm nets $8m from ACC for sex abuse victims
New
April 7 2005
A Christchurch law firm that touted nationwide for business from sexual abuse
victims has since won $8 million in Accident Compensation Corporation
payments for its clients. In 2002, Wakefield Associates distributed one
million leaflets pointing out that new ACC rules allowed victims one-off
payments of up to $25,000 and ongoing sums in excess of $150,000
2005-0407 - The Press - Firm's
clients get $8m from ACC
New
April 7 2005
by Kamala Hayman - A Christchurch law firm that touted nationwide for
business from sexual abuse victims has since won $8 million in Accident
Compensation Corporation payments for its clients. In 2002, Wakefield
Associates distributed one million leaflets pointing out that new ACC rules
allowed victims one-off payments of up to $25,000 and ongoing sums in excess
of $150,000.
2005-0406 - NZ
Parliament - Responses to Questions of March 17
New
April 7 2005
Questions by Katherine Rich -
3724 - How many times has ACC removed billing privileges from providers
because of fraud or suspected fraud for each financial year starting 1 July
2000 including the present financial year to date broken down by regions.
3723 - What is the total number of complaints to professional bodies laid by
ACC for provider fraud for each financial year starting 1 July 2000,
including the present financial year to date, broken down by regions
3722 - What is the total amount spent on private investigation companies
broken down by financial year since 1 July 2000, company and amount?
3721 - What is the total number successful convictions for provider fraud for
each financial year starting 1 July 2000, including the present financial
year to date, broken down by regions and any fraud categories used by ACC
such as claiming for treatments and services not provided, claiming times in
excess of the time spent with the claimant, over-servicing for financial
gain, forged billing schedules and documents, making false statements,
claiming for patients that don’t exist or other types of frauds?
3720 - What is the total number successful convictions for claimant fraud for
each financial year starting 1 July 2000, including the present financial
year to date, broken down by regions and claimant categories such as working
while receiving weekly compensation without advising ACC, misrepresenting an
accident or injury, misrepresenting their capacity in order to gain
entitlements, making false declarations, altering documents to obtain
entitlements or other types of fraud?
3719 - What is the total number of charges laid for provider fraud for each
financial year starting 1 July 2000, including the present financial year to
date, broken down by regions and any fraud categories used by ACC such as
claiming for treatments and services not provided, claiming times in excess
of the time spent with the claimant, over-servicing for financial gain,
forged billing schedules and documents, making false statements, claiming for
patients that don’t exist or other types of frauds?
3718 - What
is the total number charges laid for claimant fraud for each financial year
starting 1 July 2000, including the present financial year to date, broken
down by regions and claimant categories such as working while receiving
weekly compensation without advising ACC, misrepresenting an accident or
injury, misrepresenting their capacity in order to gain entitlements, making
false declarations, altering documents to obtain entitlements or other types
of fraud?
3716 - What is the total number of investigations of claimant fraud for each
financial year starting 1 July 2000, including the present financial year to
date, broken down by regions and claimant categories such as working while
receiving weekly compensation without advising ACC, misrepresenting an
accident or injury, misrepresenting their capacity in order to gain
entitlements, making false declarations, altering documents to obtain
entitlements or other types of fraud?
2005-0406 - NZ Parliament
- Responses to Questions of March 15
New
April 7 2005
Questions by Katherine Rich -
3522
- How many claims initially accepted by ACC have been declined, year
by year for the last 5 years and what was the category of claim, and the
reason for the claim being declined?
3519
- What percentage of all people who go onto ACC are still on it after
6 months; after 12 months; after 2 years; after 3 years; and after 5 years?
3517
- Has ACC referred any counsellors to their professional body for
investigation, if so, what date and why?
3515
- What is the breakdown of payments to Wakefield Associates for their
clients, in the year to June 1 2004 and the year to date broken down by
category – whether independent allowance or lump sum, and whether the claims
are sensitive claims or not?
3514
- How many lump sum payments have been made under the Injury
Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001, broken down by date of
payment, and category of claim?
3513
- How many applications have been received by ACC for sexual abuse
year by year for the last 4 years, how many of these claims were subsequently
withdrawn, how many were approved and how many declined?
2005-0316 - NZ Herald - Dyson
defends ACC rape case response
NZPA - ACC Minister Ruth Dyson says she is happy that ACC's decision to deny
a lump-sum compensation claim made by a victim of a serial rapist was handled
appropriately. National MP Katherine Rich said yesterday that the Government
must investigate why ACC denied lump-sum compensation to a victim of serial
rapist Akeel Hassan Abbas Al Baiiaty.
2005-0315 - National Party
- Investigate ACC’s treatment of rape victim
New
April 7 2005
by Katherine Rich - “It is deeply concerning that a young rape victim is
reported to have received no support or advice from ACC, and the Minister
should investigate,” says National Party ACC spokeswoman Katherine Rich. “ACC
Minister Ruth Dyson must investigate the handling of this victim’s claim
immediately.”
2005-0315 - Newstalk ZB -
Gov't justifies ACC refusal
The Government is justifying ACC's refusal to grant compensation to the
victim of a serial rapist. ACC Minister Ruth Dyson says the woman - who is
the latest victim of Iraqi, Akeel Hassan Abbas Al Baiiaty - has received
funding for medical costs to cover doctors' visits and counseling
2005-0315 - Gordon Waugh - ACC
Compensation
by Gordon Waugh - ACC's refusal to pay compensation to a rape victim (Herald,
Mar 15) underlines the sheer stupidity of the legislation enacted by the
present Labour Government. …….ACC's deranged rules must be changed to require
proof of abuse through conviction of the abuser. The woman in question would
then rightfully qualify for compensation, but thousands of other undeserving
claims, based on fanciful but unproven stories of abuse, would correctly be
rejected
2005-0315 - NZ Herald - ACC
refuses to help victim of serial rapist
by David Eames and NZPA - The latest victim of serial rapist Akeel Hassan
Abbas Al Baiiaty has been denied compensation from ACC, which says she did
not suffer a long-term injury ….. The latest victim, who cannot be named,
applied for compensation on the basis of post-traumatic stress and anxiety
problems caused by the rape. She had wanted to seek counselling with any
money she received and sought a lump-sum payment, but was declined because
there was no permanent injury
2005-0315 - Dominion Post -
ACC declined compo to rape victim
The latest victim of serial rapist Akeel Hassan Abbas Al Baiiaty has been
denied compensation from ACC, which says she did not suffer a long-term
injury.
2005-0302 - Dominion Post -
HIV trauma compo bid
A woman exposed to HIV by her boyfriend is fighting for compensation from ACC
for the psychological trauma she experienced. Her case, which could set a
legal precedent affecting other potential claimants, will be heard in
Wellington District Court today. The 34-year-old woman was put at risk of
contracting the disease after her partner failed to tell her he was
HIV-positive.
2005-0118 - Manukau
Courier - Sexual abuse centre secures new funding
New
April 7 2005
by Amy Patterson - A counselling service for sexual assault victims is fully
staffed after facing dire financial straits last year. Staff received
redundancy notices in March when the Auckland Sexual Abuse Help service faced
closure because it couldn't secure funding. But the Mt Eden based service
withdrew the redundancy notices after the Government pledged funding through
the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
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