WELLINGTON - An Upper Hutt woman who has successfully challenged an ACC assessment says her win is a victory for all women who work at home.
District Court Judge Paul Barber has ruled that Johanne Greally was entitled to 12 hours' homecare a week while she was incapacitated by injury, rather than the 5\DC hours allotted to her by an ACC assessor.
Although the hours were later raised to seven, Mrs Greally claimed it was not enough.
It sent her household into "meltdown." Her husband was unable to help because he was too busy at work and she had to pay for extra home-help herself.
Judge Barber said the ACC assessment was "somewhat unreasonable."
Mrs Greally believes she will get $1663 from ACC, as a result of what she called an unprecedented court decision.
"It's not just a victory for me, it's a victory for all women who work at home."
She said the assessor believed that most housework could be finished in three hours a week.
"It's ridiculous that ACC employ such a person as an assessor. She has no experience with caring for children and seems to live outside reality."
An ACC spokesman said the judge's decision did not appear to raise any points of law as his decision was based on the facts.
- NZPA
Landmark ACC win 'boon to women'
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