Financial Services
RAMS reaches settlement in franchise class action
Defunct Westpac subsidiary RAMS Financial Group has agreed to settle a class action over the termination of franchise agreements.
Class Actions
Macquarie hit with second class action by investors in Shield fund
Investment manager Macquarie has been hit with a second class action by investors who sank over $320 million of their superannuation into Keystone's collapsed Shield Master Fund.
Class Actions
Boral class action sent to mediation before ex-Chief Justice
A securities class action against Boral will go mediation before the former Chief Justice of the Federal Court early next year, with a judge saying the High Court will likely hand down its much-anticipated judgment in the CBA class action before then.
Business of Law
Solicitor’s lien covers costs of enforcing unpaid legal fees: court
Settling a split in authorities from the 19th century, an appeals court has found that a solicitor’s lien applies over all money held in a client’s trust account and covers the costs of enforcing unpaid legal fees, not just the bill itself.
Class Actions
Full Court tosses Plus500’s bid to stay class action over arbitration clause
The Full Court has rejected trading platform Plus500's bid to stay a class action by investors who lost money on highly leveraged contracts for difference in light of an arbitration clause in its terms and conditions, upholding a finding that the clause was an unfair contract term.
Discrimination
IVF class action flags constitutional fight over Limitation Act
A class action over Medicare rebates for fertility treatments has flagged a constitutional fight in the case, saying Victoria's limitations legislation was inconsistent with federal human rights laws.
Business of Law
Lawyer’s conduct in case against BT Funds referred to watchdog
A case on behalf of a retiree against super provider BT Funds has been put stayed as a judge refers the matter to the legal watchdog over concerns the proceeding was filed by her former lawyer without her knowledge.
Class Actions
Class action for detained WA fine defaulters can amend case
A discrimination class action has got the go-ahead to revise its case over a Western Australia law allowing detention of residents who defaulted on fines, which is said to have disproportionately affected Indigenous people.
Class Actions
Victoria seeks to declass pepper spray class action
The state of Victoria wants to declass a representative proceeding brought on behalf of climate protesters over Victoria Police's use of pepper spray, telling a judge it is prepared to negotiate individually with the 50 group members.
