Latest news with #DamianSturzaker
7NEWS
5 days ago
- 7NEWS
Huge win for Australian women embroiled in Qatar Airways physical examination horror as Federal Court rules they can sue airline
There were tears in court on Thursday as a group of Australian women had a stunning legal victory after being dragged off a plane and strip searched in the Middle East. The five Australians were among hundreds of women alleged to have been forcibly removed from aircraft at Doha on October 2, 2020 as officials searched for the mother of a newborn found in a bathroom at the terminal. On Thursday, the group of five women won the right to sue Qatar Airways over the airline conducting intimate physical examinations on the tarmac without their consent. Taken off planes by armed guards, many allege they were forced to conduct non-consensual gynaecological or intimate physical examinations. One of the victims Anna, who was searched in an ambulance on the tarmac of Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, sat down with 7NEWS. 'The fear, the anxiety, the tears. I can't even describe it in words, these moments, really,' Anna said. 'It still comes in waves.' She was officially diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder this year and has flashbacks of her baby boy lying on her chest as airport staff violated her. 'Being there alone and feeling so powerless to protect not only myself, but him, mostly him,' she said. Last year, the Federal Court dismissed the women's claim against Qatar Airways, citing laws governing global travel, arguing the women weren't 'technically' injured. 'That was very, very painful. We haven't been even given the chance to be heard,' Anna said. The women, three of whom were allegedly subjected to invasive searches, had earlier launched legal action against Qatar Airways, the airport operator and the government-owned Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. After an initial ruling barred them from pursuing the airline and the QCAA, the Federal Court ruled on Thursday that the suit against Qatar Airways and the airport operator could continue. 'I was an emotional wreck. We all were,' Anna said. The women's lawyer Damian Sturzaker said his clients were relieved with their win after 'a very long and stressful struggle to bring this to court'. 'Unfortunately the case against the state of Qatar was unsuccessful, however this has always been an issue against the airline,' he said outside court. 'We've now got an opportunity to have a full hearing with all of (the women's) evidence coming out and, in those circumstances, we're very very pleased with the outcome today.' The women are seeking compensation for mental stress, for alleged assault and for the alleged false imprisonment during the airport incident nearly five years ago. They claim the airline and the airport operator were negligent and breached their duty of care to passengers who were forced off the plane and subjected to searches. A judge previously dismissed the women's claims against Qatar Airways as having no prospect of success because the searches didn't occur when disembarking or embarking the plane. However, the Full Court determined on Thursday there was 'no sufficiently high degree of certainty' that was the case and ruled it is an issue that should be decided at trial. Chief Justice Debra Mortimer, Justice Angus Stewart, Justice Stephen Stellios upheld the primary ruling that the women could not sue the QCAA because it has immunity as an entity of a foreign state. Qatar Airways was ordered to pay the legal bill accrued by the women during the appeal. The court battle between the two parties is not expected to be heard this year. Outside court, Mr Sturzaker said he was confident in his steadfast clients' case against the airline and the airport operator. 'They always would have liked to see a resolution to the matter but if that can't be achieved then of course the matter will go to hearing,' he said.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Five women dragged off Qatar Airways flight & stripped searched after baby found in airport bin given green light to sue
FIVE women who were allegedly hauled off from a Qatar Airways flight by armed cops and strip-searched have won the right to sue the airline. They were among 3 CCTV shows authorities in Qatar holding a baby that was dumped in a toilet bin at Doha's Hamad Airport Credit: Nine 3 Dozens of women who were allegedly subjected to invasive examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned Credit: Nine 3 Dozens of women were allegedly hauled off from a Qatar Airways flight by armed cops in 2020 (file picture) Credit: Getty - Contributor Qatari authorities are said to have pulled women off 10 planes in Doha in 2020 and forced them to take invasive gynaecological exams. They were hunting for the mother of the newborn found abandoned in an airport bathroom bin. Some women claimed they were made to take off their underwear and subjected to non-consensual gynaecological inspections by a nurse in ambulances on the tarmac. One passenger was forced to undergo a strip search while holding her five-month-old son, the lawsuit claims. Another, who is elderly and legally blind, was directed out of the aircraft but was not subject to a search. Five Aussie women caught up in the ordeal lodged legal action against The incident made headlines around the world and sparked outrage in Australia, straining diplomatic ties with Qatar. The group of women brought claims under the Montreal Convention, which covers airline liability, as well as negligence, assault and false imprisonment. Most read in The US Sun They sought damages for the impact on their mental health , including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from the "unlawful physical contact". Federal Court Justice John Halley dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways last year. The initial court ruling said the woman had no reasonable prospect of success - and that Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority amounted to a foreign state immune from Australian law. But on Thursday, the full Federal Court overturned the ruling on Qatar Airways, saying the issue was too complex to be dismissed summarily. "Whether or not the claims come within the scope of the Montreal Convention is a matter of some complexity," the summary judgment said. "It is therefore not an issue apt to be decided at the stage of summary dismissal." The judgment allows the women to continue their lawsuit against Qatar Airways and MATAR. "Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha, and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering," said Damian Sturzaker, the lawyer from Marque Lawyers representing the women. "We will continue to support them as the case continues in the Federal Court." Australia 's government cited the incident as a reason to block Qatar Airways from operating more flights into the country. Read more on the Irish Sun Qatar's then prime minister, Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, at the time offered his "sincerest apologies for what some female travellers went through".
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Five women dragged off Qatar Airways flight & stripped searched after baby found in airport bin given green light to sue
FIVE women who were allegedly hauled off from a Qatar Airways flight by armed cops and strip-searched have won the right to sue the airline. They were among dozens of women who were allegedly subjected to invasive examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned at Doha's Hamad Airport. Advertisement 3 CCTV shows authorities in Qatar holding a baby that was dumped in a toilet bin at Doha's Hamad Airport Credit: Nine 3 Dozens of women who were allegedly subjected to invasive examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned Credit: Nine 3 Dozens of women were allegedly hauled off from a Qatar Airways flight by armed cops in 2020 (file picture) Credit: Getty - Contributor Qatari authorities are said to have pulled women off 10 planes in Doha in 2020 and forced them to take invasive gynaecological exams. They were hunting for the mother of the newborn found abandoned in an airport bathroom bin. Some women claimed they were made to take off their underwear and subjected to non-consensual gynaecological inspections by a nurse in ambulances on the tarmac. One passenger was forced to undergo a strip search while holding her five-month-old son, the lawsuit claims. Advertisement Another, who is elderly and legally blind, was directed out of the aircraft but was not subject to a search. Five Aussie women caught up in the ordeal lodged legal action against Qatar Airways, claiming they were assaulted and falsely imprisoned. The incident made headlines around the world and sparked outrage in Australia, straining diplomatic ties with Qatar. The group of women brought claims under the Montreal Convention, which covers airline liability, as well as negligence, assault and false imprisonment. Advertisement They sought damages for the impact on their mental health, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from the "unlawful physical contact". Federal Court Justice John Halley dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways last year. The initial court ruling said the woman had no reasonable prospect of success - and that Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority amounted to a foreign state immune from Australian law. But on Thursday, the full Federal Court overturned the ruling on Qatar Airways, saying the issue was too complex to be dismissed summarily. Advertisement "Whether or not the claims come within the scope of the Montreal Convention is a matter of some complexity," the summary judgment said. "It is therefore not an issue apt to be decided at the stage of summary dismissal." The judgment allows the women to continue their lawsuit against Qatar Airways and MATAR. "Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha, and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering," said Damian Sturzaker, the lawyer from Marque Lawyers representing the women. Advertisement "We will continue to support them as the case continues in the Federal Court." Australia's government cited the incident as a reason to block Qatar Airways from operating more flights into the country. Qatar's then prime minister, Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, at the time offered his "sincerest apologies for what some female travellers went through".
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Five women dragged off Qatar Airways flight & stripped searched after baby found in airport bin given green light to sue
FIVE women who were allegedly hauled off from a Qatar Airways flight by armed cops and strip-searched have won the right to sue the airline. They were among dozens of women who were allegedly subjected to invasive examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned at Doha's Hamad Airport. 3 Qatari authorities are said to have pulled women off 10 planes in Doha in 2020 and forced them to take invasive gynaecological exams. They were hunting for the mother of the newborn found abandoned in an airport bathroom bin. Some women claimed they were made to take off their underwear and subjected to non-consensual gynaecological inspections by a nurse in ambulances on the tarmac. One passenger was forced to undergo a strip search while holding her five-month-old son, the lawsuit claims. Another, who is elderly and legally blind, was directed out of the aircraft but was not subject to a search. Five Aussie women caught up in the ordeal lodged legal action against Qatar Airways, claiming they were assaulted and falsely imprisoned. The incident made headlines around the world and sparked outrage in Australia, straining diplomatic ties with Qatar. The group of women brought claims under the Montreal Convention, which covers airline liability, as well as negligence, assault and false imprisonment. They sought damages for the impact on their mental health, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from the "unlawful physical contact". Federal Court Justice John Halley dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways last year. The initial court ruling said the woman had no reasonable prospect of success - and that Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority amounted to a foreign state immune from Australian law. But on Thursday, the full Federal Court overturned the ruling on Qatar Airways, saying the issue was too complex to be dismissed summarily. "Whether or not the claims come within the scope of the Montreal Convention is a matter of some complexity," the summary judgment said. "It is therefore not an issue apt to be decided at the stage of summary dismissal." The judgment allows the women to continue their lawsuit against Qatar Airways and MATAR. "Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha, and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering," said Damian Sturzaker, the lawyer from Marque Lawyers representing the women. "We will continue to support them as the case continues in the Federal Court." Australia's government cited the incident as a reason to block Qatar Airways from operating more flights into the country.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Major update after multiple Australian women were pulled off a flight and strip-searched at Doha airport when an abandoned baby was found in a bin
Five Australian women allegedly subjected to invasive strip searches have been given the go ahead to sue Qatar Airways after a 'long and stressful struggle'. The women, who cannot be legally named, were among hundreds of women alleged to have been forcibly removed from aircraft at Doha on October 2, 2020 as officials searched for the mother of a newborn found in a bathroom at the terminal. Taken off planes by armed guards, many alleged that they were forced to conduct non-consensual gynaecological or intimate physical examinations at Hamad Airport. One passenger was forced to undergo a strip search holding her five-month old son, the lawsuit claims. Another, who is elderly and legally blind, was directed out of the aircraft but was not subject to a search. The women, three of whom were allegedly subjected to invasive searches, launched legal action against Qatar Airways, the airport operator and the government-owned Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. After an initial ruling barred them from pursuing the airline and the QCAA, the Federal Court ruled on Thursday that the suit against Qatar Airways and the airport operator could continue. The women's lawyer Damian Sturzaker said his clients were relieved with their win after 'a very long and stressful struggle to bring this to court'. 'Unfortunately the case against the state of Qatar was unsuccessful, however this has always been an issue against the airline,' he said outside court. 'We've now got an opportunity to have a full hearing with all of (the women's) evidence coming out and, in those circumstances, we're very very pleased with the outcome today.' The women are seeking compensation for mental stress, for alleged assault and for the alleged false imprisonment during the airport incident nearly five years ago. They claim the airline and the airport operator were negligent and breached their duty of care to passengers who were forced off the plane and subjected to searches. A judge previously dismissed the women's claims against Qatar Airways as having no prospect of success because the searches didn't occur when disembarking or embarking the plane. However, the Full Court determined on Thursday there was 'no sufficiently high degree of certainty' that was the case and ruled it is an issue that should be decided at trial. Chief Justice Debra Mortimer, Justice Angus Stewart, Justice Stephen Stellios upheld the primary ruling that the women could not sue the QCAA because it has immunity as an entity of a foreign state. Qatar Airways was ordered to pay the legal bill accrued by the women during the appeal. The court battle between the two parties is not expected to be heard this year. Outside court, Mr Sturzaker said he was confident in his steadfast clients' case against the airline and the airport operator. 'They always would have liked to see a resolution to the matter but if that can't be achieved then of course the matter will go to hearing,' he said.
