Class Actions
Robodebt class action judge approves record $550M settlement, halves funder payout
A judge has approved a $550 million settlement in a class action over the Morrison government’s Robodebt scheme but has halved a funder’s payout to $35 million, despite arguments that it was unprecedented to award a single digit percentage commission.
Competition & Consumer Protection
JustAnswer agrees to $10M penalty in ACCC subscriptions trap case
Advice platform JustAnswer has agreed to a $10 million penalty in the consumer’s watchdog’s case accusing the company of duping customers into signing up for expensive monthly subscriptions.
Analysis
Block Earner will have to produce legal advice to avoid penalty in ASIC case: expert
A financial licensing expert has predicted that cryptocurrency firm Block Earner will have to produce the legal advice that saw it avoid a penalty at first instance, after the High Court found last week that it needed a financial services licence.
Employment
Charles Darwin University to backpay workers $4M
Charles Darwin University has agreed to backpay over $4 million to over 800 casual employees as part of an enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the latest Australian university to admit to underpaying staff.
Energy & Natural Resources
Court says Land Valuation Act should be amended to clarify ‘urban purpose’
An appeals court has shot down a challenge to a valuation for the country’s largest solar farm and said the Land Valuation Act should be amended to clarify the definition of an ‘urban purpose.’
Competition & Consumer Protection
ACCC accuses weight loss firm Miyagi of duping customers
The ACCC has dragged weight loss company Miyagi and its boss, Shane Da Costa, to court alleging they breached consumer laws by including unfair contract terms and false and misleading representations.
Accounting
KPMG chair to step down, audit partners out
KPMG's national chairman Martin Sheppard is stepping down to make way for an independent chair, and audit partners Eileen Hoggett and Paul Rogers are leaving the firm.
Defamation
‘No cogent argument’: Judge won’t toss Seven’s cross-claim in producer’s case
A judge has tossed a former Spotlight producer's bid to throw out Seven's cross-claim, following a court appearance where the producer accused the TV network, News Corp, and their lawyers of conspiring against him.
Business of Law
Seyfarth Shaw hires DLA Piper’s head of employment
Seyfarth Shaw has hired DLA Piper's former head of labor and employment in Australia to join its team in Sydney.
Intellectual Property
Clash of kings: Storage giant loses trade mark battle
Storage King has failed in its opposition to a trade mark application by Sydney-based Rubbish Removal Kings, with IP Australia saying 'king' was a “common laudatory word".
