A judge has approved a 24 per cent group costs order in a consolidated class action against a2 Milk, noting the complexity of the claims against the dairy giant and saying a GCO would align the class action lawyers’ interests with group members’.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has renewed its calls for the government to adopt its proposed reforms to the merger regime, warning that consumers and businesses will pay the price for continuing anti-competitive mergers which enable parties to engage in “legal brinkmanship” with the regulator.
A judge has rejected a top orthopaedic surgeon’s bid to uncover the names of 13 sources who gave information to a Nine journalist, preferring the public interest in protecting the sources’ identities and noting their fears of reprisals by the Sydney surgeon.
A judge has refused a bid by the ACT Police Chief to intervene on behalf of the AFP in Shane Drumgold SC legal challenge to the findings of an inquiry into the prosecution of Brittany Higgins’ assault claims against Bruce Lehrmann, but has allowed six police officers to be joined to defend the findings.
The judge overseeing Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson has rejected a bid by the former chief of staff to then defence minister Linda Reynolds to avoid giving evidence on the basis of “harm it may cause to her health conditions”.
Acciona has prevailed in a fight with subcontractor EnerMech over a $10 million progress payment, which a judge found was instead an attempt by EnerMech to claim a credit in relation to security paid to Acciona.
A judge has awarded carriage of a class action against Toyota unit Hino to Maurice Blackburn, finding that the law firm’s experience and resources trumped those of small personal injury firm Gerard Malouf & Partners, despite its alliance with a large US firm.
Former Bellamy’s Australia director Jan Cameron has been found guilty of two counts of breaching the Corporations Act, following an investigation by the corporate regulator over her failure to disclose her stake in the baby formula company.
The consumer watchdog has asked a court to impose a $15 million penalty against Airbnb in addition to a $15 million consumer redress scheme, in a case alleging the vacation rental giant misled Australian consumers by displaying prices in US dollars.
The Full Federal Court has found that Telstra can be sued for a former employee’s alleged sexual harassment of his neighbours, finding harassment that is part of a private dispute may also occur in the course of providing services.