Cindy Cameronne

Texas oil giant Tri-Star has lost its bid for a referral in a dispute with natural gas exporter Australia Pacific LNG over several coal seam gas fields in Queensland and $7.6 billion in share acquisitions.

One of the two remaining class actions against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at military bases across the country has settled for $132.7 million on the eve of trial, with the final case going back to mediation.

A Dutch renewable energy company has brought proceedings in the Federal Court to enforce a $472 million arbitration award against Spain over changes to its energy policies, after the country lost a similar case in the High Court. 

A recent decision by the Federal Court that questioned whether the introduction of a serious harm test in defamation law could infringe the Judiciary Act has shone a light on the need for a federal defamation framework, legal experts say. 

A judge overseeing an investor class action over the collapse of advisory firm Linchpin Capital has questioned whether he has to “effectively second guess” a law firm’s advice given to group members about a partial settlement. 

Insurance Australia has agreed to pay a $40 million penalty in a case by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission alleging it short-changed NRMA customers a staggering $60 million in promised loyalty discounts. 

A judge overseeing two 7-Eleven class actions has signed off on $2.25 million in costs incurred by the funder and lawyers in their pitched battle to win approval for the terms of a $98 million settlement, which included deductions of more than $44 million to cover commission and fees.

A judge has questioned whether recent changes to defamation law requiring courts to determine if a publication has caused serious harm ahead of trial are invalid because of possible inconsistency with the Federal Court’s case management rules.

US singer Katy Perry and an Australian fashion designer are at loggerheads over court orders to be made following a judge’s finding the pop star was liable for trade mark infringement, with concerns raised that Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ shorts could “fall between the cracks”. 

Telstra and TPG have asked the Competition Tribunal to undo the ACCC’s rejection of their proposed regional network sharing agreement, but fellow telco Optus has warned the deal would kneecap its ability to compete.