Ex-premier Kristina Keneally scores huge court win after being sued by three sisters for ‘mental suffering’
- Kristina Keneally lawsuit from ICAC investigation thrown out
- Ex-NSW premier was being sued by three sisters
A lawsuit against ex-NSW premier Kristina Keneally brought by three sisters over an ICAC investigation has been dismissed.
Former politician Kristina Keneally was being sued by Sandra, Michelle, and Jessica Lazarus in the Supreme Court before the case was thrown out on Tuesday.
The sisters had claimed the former senator was responsible for inflicting chronic and severe mental suffering upon them by approving an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation in 2010 and 2011, when she was the Premier.
The investigation was conducted into allegations of fraudulent financial activity at two major Sydney hospitals, the Royal Hospital for Women and the Royal North Shore Hospital, between 2007 and 2009.
Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally (pictured) has had a big win after the lawsuit brought by three sisters over an ICAC investigation has been dismissed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday
The sisters had claimed the former senator was responsible for inflicting chronic and severe mental suffering upon them by approving an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation in 2010 and 2011, when Ms Keneally was the Premier
The ICAC report found Sandra had authorised payments without authority for invoices to companies in which she held an undisclosed interest.
In April 2015, she was convicted of fraud and sentenced to at least 16 months in jail.
Her sister Michelle was found guilty of giving false and misleading evidence to the commission and given a six-month suspended sentence.
Both sisters launched appeals against their sentences
Jessica was not charged and the ICAC report said her involvement in the investigation was ‘limited’.
The three Lazarus sisters alleged the commission had acted outside its jurisdiction and maintained they did not commit any crimes.
They further claimed Ms Keneally caused them mental anguish by approving the lengthy investigation.
The court was previously told the Lazarus sisters had signalled an intention to issue a notice of discontinuation.
However, Justice Mark Ierace on Tuesday refused them leave to do so.
Ms Keneally was NSW’s Premier from December 2009 to March 2011. She subsequently made the move to federal politics and served as a senator from 2018 to April this year
Lawyers for the Lazarus sisters were present in court on Tuesday as Justice Ierace dismissed their summons, bringing an end to proceedings.
Ms Keneally was NSW’s Premier from December 2009 to March 2011.
She subsequently made the move to federal politics and served as a senator from 2018 to April this year.
She made a failed bid for the previously safe seat of Fowler in southwestern Sydney during last year’s federal election.
