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Pru Connolly

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Special Counsel
Image > Team Member > Pru Connolly

Pru is highly experienced in defending personal injury and liability claims. She is a skilled negotiator, committed to the speedy resolution of claims for her clients. Pru specialises in workplace and transport accidents and has experience in dependency claims, catastrophic injuries, indemnity issues and claims involving multi-party litigation. Pru regularly advises clients on liability, quantum and policy coverage issues.

Experience

Pru's experience includes:

  • successful resolution of public liability files involving the application of the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002, The Civil Liability Act 2003 and the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003
  • resolution of an $11 million claim at an early stage, dealing with issues of capacity, provision of care in a regional area and employment opportunities in a country town
  • conducting successful suppression applications in fraud claims, resulting in withdrawal of the claim
  • significant experience in choice of law and jurisdiction issues in claims by foreign nationals

Career highlights

  • Acting for a CTP insurer in an indemnity dispute involving whether the accident was caused "by, through or in connection with a motor vehicle". The claim was litigated with multiple defendants but successfully resolved prior to trial.
  • Running the trial of Smith V Randall [2016] QSC 191. Whilst the matter was essentially a liability contest, the novel factor was that both plaintiffs had the same insurer. Prior to the trial commencing, Pru ran a successful application for representation by a single counsel and single legal firm.
  • Advising and resolving numerous disputes involving cross-claims for contribution by the statutory Queensland workers' compensation insurer and self-insurers under the Queensland scheme in work-related injury claims involving registered motor vehicles and trailers.