Lawyerly’s Litigation Law Firms of 2022 racked up precedent-setting victories in a year that continued to see major developments in class action law.
An investor class action against RCR Tomlinson has reached a walk-away settlement agreement with two former directors of the failed engineering company.
After initial qualms, a judge has signed off on a $29.5 million settlement in a class action against recycling company Sims that includes a “staggering” $8.5 million in legal costs and an insurance policy buffering the funder from adverse costs.
Class action settlement sums reached new highs last year, with the ten largest agreements totalling almost $1 billion, almost half of which was secured by one plaintiff law firm.
In a boost to shareholder class actions, the High Court has dismissed an application by engineering services firm Worley to appeal a finding that companies should disclose to the market forecasts that ought reasonably to have been held.
A judge weighing a $29.5 million settlement in a class action against recycling company Sims Limited has questioned the court’s power to vary the funding agreement between the applicant and funder, which seeks to pass on its insurance costs to group members as well as recoup costs and earn a commission.
A landmark class action on behalf of over 1,700 family members and deceased estates of the Northern Territory Stolen Generations has reached a $50.45 million settlement with the federal government.
A shareholder class action against Ernst & Young over its alleged inflation of assets owned by sandalwood producer Quintis has argued the accounting firm should be allowed only one expert witness, who should collaborate with a competing expert chosen by the investors.
The funder and law firm running a shareholder class action against recycling company Sims Limited are seeking more than 57 per cent of a $29.5 million settlement for commission and costs, including an insurance policy to cover the risks of losing the case.
A judge has signed off on a $4.7 million settlement in two investor class actions against collapsed sandalwood producer Quintis, two year after an earlier settlement was scuttled as group members kicked off an insurance dispute in pursuit of a better return.