An Auckland lawyer says a settlement between the Ministry of Health and a group of caregivers of adult disabled children is welcome and enables him to pursue compensation.
A group known as the Atkinson plaintiffs took a lengthy legal action against the Ministry over its former policy of refusing to pay family members caring for adult, disabled children.
The Office of Human Rights Proceedings says the group have settled individual claims for remedies for past discrimination on confidential terms.
Jim Farmer, QC, says the settlement enables him to apply for compensation for his client Margaret Spencer from Auckland who has been caring for her adult disabled son.
"I hope Mrs Spencer gets one too. If she doesn't, we'll just have to box on and ask the tribunal or the High Court to award her compensation.
"But I think it's very encouraging that the ministry has settled with the Atkinson plaintiffs and accepted obviously that they had a valid claim."
