Class Actions
Judge mulls bidding war for $549M Robodebt settlement admin gig
The judge overseeing the Robodebt class action, which settled this month for a record $548.5 million, may put the settlement administration role out to tender, saying the sum earmarked for the job was "staggeringly large".
Article
AMP to pay $120M to settle superannuation class action
AMP has agreed to pay $120 million to settle a class action stemming from the banking royal commission which accused it of overcharging millions of superannuation members over a 12-year period.
ASIC
ANZ agrees to $240M in fines for ‘widespread misconduct’
ANZ has agreed to pay $240 million in penalties to resolve four separate cases by the corporate regulator, including a record $80 million penalty for unconscionable conduct in its dealings with the federal government.
AI
Another judge rails against GenAI use, says even self-repped litigants must do their homework
Another judge has railed against the use of generative AI in court proceedings, after a self-represented litigant filed an application to annul his bankruptcy that was replete with fake citations.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Meta ordered to put on defence in ACCC case over scam crypto ads
A judge has ordered Facebook owner Meta to file its defence in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s three-year-old case over scam cryptocurrency ads on the social media platform.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Mastercard fights win for ACCC over in-house counsel communications
Facing allegations that it misused its market power with major retailers, Mastercard is challenging a ruling for the ACCC that lays bare discussions about merchant agreements involving inhouse lawyers.
Intellectual Property
High Court asked to decide if abattoir activists own footage copyright
An activist group has asked the High Court to overturn a decision finding it does not own the copyright for grim footage secretly obtained by trespassing at a Victorian slaughterhouse, arguing the case has consequences for press freedoms.
M&A
Clayton Utz recruits private equity pro from Allens
Clayton Utz has snagged a senior partner from Allens’ mergers and acquisitions team to become its head of private equity.
Accounting
Judge flags possible referral to legal watchdog in EY, Alvarez & Marsal suit
A judge has flagged the possibility of referring lawyers acting for Alvarez & Marsal to the legal watchdog after hearing the consultant's costs of complying with preliminary discovery orders won by Ernst & Young could top $500,000.
Scott Robertson
Martinus Rail wins fight over $23M payment claim
Martinus Rail has won its fight against grain supply chain Co-operative Bulk Handling over a $23 million payment claim for building a rail siding in WA, with a judge finding that the deadline for responding to the claim began running from a Saturday.
