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ā€˜Completely at seaā€™: Banks push for class closure in flex commissions cases
Class Actions 2023-06-02 10:33 pm By Sam Matthews

Westpac, Macquarie and ANZ are seeking class closure orders ahead of mediation in three class actions over flexible commissions schemes, telling a court hearing they will be ā€œcompletely at seaā€ without a better idea of the class size.

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PFAS class action on behalf of First Australians settles for $22M
Class Actions 2023-05-25 11:13 am By Cindy Cameronne

The last remaining class action against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at a military base in Jervis Bay has settled for $22 million, from which $5 million will be deducted for legal costs.Ā 

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PFAS class action settles for $132.7M on eve of trial
Catherine Gleeson 2023-05-15 10:44 am By Cindy Cameronne

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.

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Firm’s contingency fee re-do wins over judge in class actions against banks
Class Actions 2023-03-03 5:50 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A law firm has won its second bid for a group costs order in three class actions against banks over flexible commission schemes after a judge in 2021 rejected what was then the first-ever application for a contingency fee.

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Law firm shaves 0.5% off payout in second go at class action contingency fee
Class Actions 2023-02-23 5:11 pm By Cindy Cameronne

Maurice Blackburn has had a second crack at a group costs order in three class actions against banks over alleged flexible commission schemes after a judge in 2021 rejected what was then the first-ever application for a contingency fee.

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‘Porsches, Lamborghinis and racehorses’: Court hears details of alleged $400M Forum Finance fraud
White Collar 2023-02-06 5:41 pm By Sam Matthews

Westpac has told a court that it is ā€œinconceivableā€ that Forum Finance directors Bill Papas and Vince Tesoriero and funded their lavish lifestyles legitimately, as trial kicked off in the bankā€™s $400 million fraud case against the Forum companies.

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No contradictor in law firmā€™s second bid for GCO in ANZ, Westpac class actions
Financial Services 2022-11-18 5:16 pm By Cindy Cameronne

ANZ and Westpac have failed in their bid for a contradictor to weigh in on a contingency fee bid in two class actions, as the law firm that lost the first ever application for a group costs order tries again.

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Forum Finance judge recuses himself after questioning director’s credibility
Legal Ethics 2022-08-19 9:51 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A Federal Court judge has recused himself from hearing a fraud trial against Forum Finance, after expressing that he had an ā€œunfavourableā€ impression of director Vince Tesoriero’s reliability as a witness.

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Forum Finance director to get $1.25M for legal funds, despite ‘Byzantine’ financials
Financial Services 2022-07-20 10:35 am By Sam Matthews

Bill Papas’ business partner Vince Tesoriero has won the release of $1.25 million to pay for his legal fees in Westpacā€™s fraud case against him, despite a judgeā€™s finding that disclosure concerning his true financial position was ā€œless than idealā€ and included ā€œstaggeringā€ discrepancies.

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Forum Finance director failed to disclose $150,000 in assets to court
Financial Services 2022-07-19 5:40 pm By Sam Matthews

Forum Finance director Vince Tesoriero has been caught out for failing to declare over $150,000 to the court, as he took the stand to defend evidence given about his financial position in Westpacā€™s fraud case against him.

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