In New Zealand, they are not just worrying about the credit crunch and economic downturn, but also the compensation claims for workers in a nuclear testing area.
Like in the UK, where the MoD and the government face questions over the 1950’s nuclear testing period, New Zealand is also trying to give the workers a voice.
However, a panel of United States appeal judges have dismissed a claim sought to enforce more than one billion US dollars nuclear test compensation settlement for the people of Bikini and Enewetak, in the Marshall Islands.
But a Washington D.C based work accident lawyer for the Bikini islander’s states that the ruling does not clear the U.S government for removing the islanders from their homeland, and leaving the isle uninhabitable.
The judges upheld a lower court’s ruling which dismissed compensation claims filed in 2006 by the people of Bikini and Enewetak, the sites of 67 American nuclear tests from 1946 to 1958.
The two atolls had been awarded more than 1 billion US dollars for loss of use, clean up and hardship by the Nuclear Claims Tribunal, an association created by a 1986 settlement agreement with the U.S government.
However, problems arose when the Tribunal lacked the funds to pay the award money and the two communities sought the U.S court action to force the U.S government to pay the compensation.
The lawyer for the workers, Jonathan Weisgall said that it is sad that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has shut the people of Bikini out. But he says, the Bikinians are not giving up and they will continue to seek justice from the other branches of the U.S government.
Recruitment firm to pay compensation
Meanwhile, back in England, the online recruitment site Monster could face legal action from 4.5 million job seekers after hackers stole personal details from users around the world.
This week Monster admitted that its database had been compromised and as a result telephone numbers, passwords, e-mail addresses and names were taken.
Susan Hall, a lawyer said that any UK job seeker who can prove harm from the latest breach could be entitled to compensation under the terms of the Data Protection Act.
Hall said that users should keep any records they can to prove what costs they incurred as a result of the websites failure to protect their personal database.
This could include documents showing costs for transactions that have had to be reversed or fees that have charged in connection with the violation.
Hall stated: “Anyone applying for compensation will need to prove that the breach at Monster led to the harm that they have suffered.” Hall noted that individuals are entitled to claim compensation, group action would be easier.
Monster could also face an enforcement notice from the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is investigating the infringement.
The ICO has also recently taken action against the Home Office and two NHS trusts for failing to protect personal data.
