Eugenia Xanthos
Special Counsel | Melbourne
Dispute Resolution | Government | Insurance
Eugenia specialises in the defence of claims in all Australian jurisdictions and courts. She has conducted high value and complex personal injury litigation for government departments, insurers, insureds, statutory authorities and defendant employers across all Victorian jurisdictions and has managed a breadth of insurance claims.
Her legal experience includes public liability claims, workplace accident claims, transport accident claims, subrogated recovery actions, indemnity/coverage disputes, claims brought by statutory insurers and coronial inquiries. Eugenia is a commercially minded individual who understands her clients’ business needs. She is respected in the insurance space for her practical approach to cost-effective resolution of disputes and her commitment to achieving commercial and competitive settlement outcomes for her clients.
Eugenia regularly conducts litigation in the Court of Appeal, Supreme, County, Magistrates and the Coroner’s Courts. Eugenia is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Experience
Eugenia’s experience includes advising:
- various insurers and insureds in the defence of personal injury proceedings brought by injured workers and non-workers and recovery proceedings brought by the Victorian WorkCover Authority;
- the State of Victoria in the defence of a catastrophic injury claim brought by a minor under a protection order;
- a confidential client in a nervous shock claim brought by the next of kin of a child that passed away while in the care of the State;
- an aged care facility in the defence of a personal injury claim brought by a resident (by way of a litigation guardian) for physical injuries sustained whilst in residential care;
- the Transport Accident Commission in the defence of a common law damages action arising out of serious psychological and physical injuries to a pedestrian who was struck by a motorist while utilising a pedestrian crossing;
- a public hospital in the defence of a claim for psychological injury brought by a worker who was exposed to traumatic events in the course of employment;
- a metropolitan rail service in the defence of personal injury proceedings brought by a commuter;
- a human service provider in a cluster inquest before the Coroner specific to the death of various children subject to protection orders;
- a fire service authority in the defence of a personal injury claim brought by a volunteer fire fighter who was exposed to carcinogenic materials and fumes;
- a confidential client in a judicial appeal against a decision of the County Court to refuse a plaintiff leave to commence proceedings for damages for injuries sustained as a motorist;
- a confidential client in a fatal accident to a residential tenant in government housing as a result of carbon monoxide exposure; and
- various clients on insurance, indemnity, policy interpretation and dual insurance issues arising out of contracts with co-defendants.