Class Actions
GM loses bid to strike out Holden transmission defects class action
GM can't strike out a class action over alleged faulty transmissions in Holden cars, with a judge saying the case doesn't need to identify the “precise mechanical, metallurgical or engineering explanation” for alleged defects.
Employment
Setka hits back at FWO case over alleged coercion of AFL
Former CFMEU figure John Setka has denied the workplace watchdog’s claims that he tried to coerce the AFL into sacking its head umpire over his previous role at the Australian Building and Construction Commission, saying the union had a legitimate political interest in polemicising against an “anti-unionist” officiating “a working man’s sport”.
Class Actions
Acciona, AECOM added to Hunter Valley bus crash class action
Builder Acciona and consultant AECOM have been named as defendants in a class action on behalf of families of victims of a bus accident in Hunter Valley, NSW, facing allegations they were responsible for the construction and certification of the interchange where it occurred.
Class Actions
$750M climate class action against Murray Darling Basin Authority heads to trial
A long-running class action against the Murray Darling Basin Authority over alleged negligent water management, including the failure to consider the impacts of climate change, will head to trial next month, just weeks after the court issues judgment in another closely watched climate class action.
Appeals
PE fund Goldstone appeals ruling on unfair sacking of director
A private equity fund is challenging a ruling that it acted in an “oppressive” and “unfairly prejudicial” way towards its managing director, who a judge found was invalidly sacked for standing in the way of a deal with her business partner’s son.
Appeals
Full Court asked to rule on reasonableness of financial advisors’ non-competes
Two former employees of financial services firm Monarch Advisory have appealed a ruling that awarded their former employer $270,000 in damages after they were found to have breached a non-compete agreement.
ASIC
Mayfair’s conduct ‘cannot be laid at the door of any lawyers’: judge
A judge has criticised Mayfair Group’s “directing mind” James Mawhinney in a do-over of ASIC’s case over notes tied to Mission Beach properties, saying “vociferous and continuous efforts” to blame others, including lawyers, for investor losses did not reflect well on him.
Financial Services
Payday lenders BSF, Cigno lose appeal in ASIC case
Payday lenders BSF Solutions and Cigno have lost an appeal in action by ASIC alleging they engaged in unlicensed credit activity and charged prohibited fees, in the case's second run up to the Full Federal Court.
Intellectual Property
Domain resolves REA Group’s case over alleged data scraping
Real estate portal Domain has reached a settlement in a lawsuit by News Corp-owned REA Group that accused its rival of misleading conduct and infringing its copyright in property photos and floor plans.
Financial Services
Grant Thornton partner admonished for iSignthis audit review
A Grant Thornton partner has been admonished for failing to properly review the firm's audit of the 2018 financial statements of delisted fintech iSignthis, in a promising turn for a recently filed class action.
