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High Court cases could push Blue Sky class action trial to 2026
Class Actions 2024-11-26 11:46 pm By Cindy Cameronne

Two High Court cases weighing key issues for class action practitioners will likely push the trial in a shareholder proceeding against the collapsed Blue Sky Alternative Investments and auditor EY to early 2026. 

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High Court to resolve uncertainty over common fund orders
Class Actions 2024-11-08 9:31 am By Cat Fredenburgh

The High Court has agreed to rule on whether common fund orders can ever be made in class actions, including so-called solicitors’ common fund orders allowing lawyers to earn a cut of any settlement.

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High Court asked to overrule Brewster in solicitors’ CFO case
Class Actions 2024-09-24 3:34 pm By Sam Matthews

If it takes up the Federal Court’s ruling in favour of solicitors seeking to earn a cut from a class action, the High Court will be asked to overrule its 2019 decision against common fund orders.

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Blue Sky directors may be ‘dragged back’ into shareholder class action, court told
Class Actions 2024-09-11 11:07 pm By Cindy Cameronne

Three former Blue Sky directors who were originally named in a shareholder class action against the collapsed fund manager might be “dragged back” into the case after its chief operating officer pointed the finger at him in his defence, a court has heard.

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Sydney developer on hook for $11.2M over role in Plutus blackmail scheme
Tax 2024-08-28 11:38 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A property developer has been ordered to pay $11.2 million to the liquidators of Plutus Payroll after a judge found he helped an employee of the defunct payroll services company “wash” money he blackmailed from the company’s directors.

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High Court appeal seeks total knockout of common fund orders
Appeals 2024-08-05 11:16 pm By Sam Matthews

The High Court has been asked to overturn a Full Court decision finding lawyers can take a cut from a class action settlement under a solicitors’ common fund order and to finally settle the question of whether the court has the power to issue common fund orders at all.

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Contingency fees for class action lawyers are allowed, says Full Court
Class Actions 2024-07-05 11:05 am By Cindy Cameronne

Lawyers are allowed to take a cut from a class action settlement or judgment under a so-called solicitors’ common fund order, the Full Federal Court has ruled, saying they are a permissive use of the court’s power.

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What’s unjust about them? Full Court appears open to contingency fees for class action lawyers
Class Actions 2024-05-28 11:53 pm By Cindy Cameronne

Hearing arguments Tuesday on whether lawyers should be permitted to earn contingency fees in Federal Court class actions, judges on a Full Court bench appeared to lean in favour of allowing so-called solicitors’ common fund orders, rejecting claims they are “unjust”. 

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In class action defence, Blue Sky says EY has case to answer
Class Actions 2024-03-13 11:15 pm By Sam Matthews

Defunct investment firm Blue Sky has denied a class action’s claims that it misled shareholders ahead of its 2019 collapse and has pointed the finger at auditor EY.

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Solicitors’ CFO question in Blue Sky class action sent to Full Court
Class Actions 2023-11-29 11:38 pm By Christine Caulfield

Weeks after giving the thumbs up to common fund orders at settlement, the Full Federal Court has been asked to decide whether judges have power to order payment of a commission to class action solicitors — not just funders.

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