A judge has ordered Qantas to hand over instructions it gave to its solicitors at Herbert Smith Freehills that underpinned advice over the airline’s decision to sack 1,700 ground crew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qantas has been hit with a $250,000 fine for standing down a health and safety representative who directed co-workers to cease unsafe work during COVID-19, with a judge saying the airline’s conduct was “shameful” and designed to “advance its own commercial interests”.
The mother of murder victim Shandee Blackburn has lost her bid to have a judge decide ahead of trial whether acquitted suspect John Peros suffered serious harm from Facebook posts that allegedly accused him of being a murderer.
US digital giant Meta has lost its challenge to registration of the trade mark ‘Ausface’ by Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, with a delegate saying the chance of consumers confusing the mark with Meta’s Facebook was a “mere possibility”.
Software company TechnologyOne will bring a strike-out application in a lawsuit by a former regional sales director alleging the company unfairly put him on a performance improvement plan and forced him to work excessive hours.
The former director of public prosecutions in the ACT, Shane Drumgold SC, has largely succeeded in his challenge against an inquiry into the prosecution of Brittany Higgins’ assault claims against Bruce Lehrmann, with a judge finding the inquiry’s report gave rise to an apprehension of bias.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has brought proceedings against fashion retailer Mosaic Brands Limited, alleging it failed to deliver several hundred thousand products to customers within advertised time frames.
Law firm Pinsent Masons has lured two partners from KPMG Law to head a team of six lawyers for its new technology, media and telecommunications team in Australia.
A judge has ordered a litigation funder bankrolling an investor class action against Virgin Australia to show evidence it can meet a $10 million agreed indemnity with the airline, saying it was not being transparent about its financial position.
A judge has handed Ultra Tune a $1.5 million fine for contempt, saying the car repair franchise failed to meet the requirements of a court-ordered compliance program, instituted after the company copped a $2 million fine for contravening its disclosure obligations to franchisees.