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The move by Australia's highest courts to vacate in-person hearings in the face of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to have only a minor impact on cases in the short term, lawyers say, but the delays to trials and other major hearings will have a flow-on effect that could be felt for years to come.
A MinterEllison employee has tested positive to the new coronavirus and is now in self isolation, as are all the colleagues they were recently in contact with.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued guidelines on consumers' rights to refunds if a flight or event is shuttered due to the coronavirus, saying consumer guarantees could be affected if cancellation are caused by government restrictions.
The Federal Court of Australia has put a stop to all hearings listed up to June 30 and the High Court will not be sitting in April, May or June, the latest moves by the courts to reduce the risk to staff and visitors of exposure to the new coronavirus.
An employee in Allens' Brisbane office may have been exposed to the coronavirus, according to the firm, which has ordered that all staff begin working remotely as of Wednesday.
The Federal Circuit Court and Family Court in Sydney shut down on Tuesday after a family law practitioner advised of a positive COVID-19 test, but the courts said they would re-open on Wednesday.
The number of lawyers working at home continues to grow as the coronavirus spreads in Australia, with four law firms ordering staff to pack up and work from home, and more expected to follow their lead.
Two law firms have mandated that staff begin working from home to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, while others begin shifting their workforce offsite as firms test their ability to weather what is expected to be a prolonged public health crisis.
The Federal Court will take comprehensive steps to protect court staff, lawyers and litigants from the coronavirus, including expanding the use of videoconferencing and avoiding formal hearings when possible.
A Federal Court judge has acknowledged concerns raised by the accused in a criminal cartel case against mobility equipment provider Country Care and two employees about how an upcoming jury trial will proceed if the coronavirus pandemic worsens, telling the parties the court had already taken measures to control the spread of the virus.