Victorian Magistrates Court - Witness Costs?

[Propagate]

Why does life always have to revolve around money?whats in it for me? The saying what you lose on the swings you will gain on the roundabout comes to mind!!!!!!!

The only reason I made the original post was to try and find out if someone knew where the actual rates/caps/allowances were published so that I could check whether I have been reimbursed properly.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, or just or unjust, but everything I have read to date alludes to wages being reimbursed, so when a cheque arrives for a lot less than expected, is it not natural to want to check the information used to come up with the amount on the cheque?

Just because the Magistrates court issued the cheque doesn't mean it may have been a mistake.

If it is correct, then so be it, I have no issue with that. I would, however, like to be able to read something that sets out what can be paid back to a witness for out of pockets, again, especially as the only publications I can find from the Magistrates Court website allude to payment for lost wages.

Doing your civic duty etc and what and whether you should be recompensed for being out of pocket in doing that duty is another debate altogether and not what I was looking for with my original post.

Cheers.

 

[cimbom]

http://www.opp.vic.gov.au/Witnesses-and-Victims/After-Court

 

[Propagate]

http://www.opp.vic.gov.au/Witnesses-and-Victims/After-Court

Nope....it doesn't state the cap's, this is one of the pages I have been referring to. It states:-

"If you are claiming lost wages your employer will also need to sign your form or you will need to sign a statutory declaration stating that you have lost wages as a result of having to attend court."

Which alludes to your wages being reimbursed.

Magistrates Court Cashier's office tell me that you are paid up to a maximum daily allowance. They paid me $81.

I cannot find anything that states you can claim lost wages "up to X amount per day" which is what the court is telling me.

From reading your link, and others that I have found, it seems as though you should be paid your actual lost wages. This is not what the court is telling me and I cannot find anything that either backs them up, or confirms the above link, (as in wages to to x amount).

When I told the cashier on the phone that everything I have read states paid for lost wages, I just get the same answer - "A daily allowance set by legislation".

Cheers.

 

[cimbom]

This is their contact details:

Witness Assistance Service

565 Lonsdale St
Melbourne VIC 3000

T: 03 9603 7425

T: 1800 641 927 (toll free)

[email protected]

 

[Propagate]

Thanks for the number & address cimbom

Just got off the phone to a very helpful lady at the OPP.

She explained that the OPP and Magistrates Court are completely seperate but she did say that there is a capped limit for both on claims for wages expenses. She couldn't confirm the magistrates allowance but said it would likely be similar the the OPP's.

The OPP's allowance for lost wages is that you can claim for lost wages up to a maximum of $69.10 per day.

I explained why I was somewhat confused as I could not find anything that lays out the caps. I pointed her to that link for the OPP website which states you can claim unpaid wages, but does mention the cap. She is going to bring that up with her manager.

She read through an OPP claim form which did state on it wages claim up to a maximum of $69.10, however, as I explained to her, the Magistrates claim form did not have that information on it.

So, the short answer is yes, unpaid wage reimbursement is capped and is likely nowhere near what your actual lost wages would be, and the websites explaining expenses don't really explain expenses properly....

As an aside she happened to mention that she had recently been talking about this sort of thing with a colleague, in that if you find yourself on a jury for 6 weeks (similar per day caps) how would you pay your rent!?

Cheers.

 

[cu@thetop]

The only reason I made the original post was to try and find out if someone knew where the actual rates/caps/allowances were published so that I could check whether I have been reimbursed properly.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, or just or unjust, but everything I have read to date alludes to wages being reimbursed, so when a cheque arrives for a lot less than expected, is it not natural to want to check the information used to come up with the amount on the cheque?

Doing your civic duty etc and what and whether you should be recompensed for being out of pocket in doing that duty is another debate altogether and not what I was looking for with my original post.

Cheers.

Sorry if I misread that and I wasn't being critical. The loss of money is a fair comment to raise and if you were a specialist Dr giving evidence in a personal injuries case you would get paid in full and then some.
Many people look at it from "What's in it for me?" perspective- which is fair enough I suppose but regrettably the witness part of the justice system only costs the state money and is no real incentive to be in any way involved. I expect a lot of speeding fines prop this up.

The exposure to the legal system was hopefully a big eyeopener. Very useful as your investor career moves on.

 

[Propagate]

The exposure to the legal system was hopefully a big eyeopener. Very useful as your investor career moves on.

For sure. Aside from worrying about retaliation, the actual procedure and comings and goings around the courts was indeed very interesting.

I was surprised that essentially anyone can just walk into any courtroom and watch the proceedings.

I'd be interested to go and sit in on an intersting case one day.

 

[Aaron_C]

Criminal law is one of the most boring things to watch. It is NOT what you see in Law & Order.

Thankfully as a lawyer I will never get called for jury duty.....which is another similar payscale to being a witness.

 

[thatbum]

Criminal law is one of the most boring things to watch. It is NOT what you see in Law & Order.

Thankfully as a lawyer I will never get called for jury duty.....which is another similar payscale to being a witness.

Agreed. The Supreme Court murder trials I've watched are some of the dullest matters I've ever had to see.

On the other end of the scale, some of the minor traffic and simple offence charges in the Magistrates Court are entertainment gold.