James Hutton

The High Court has settled a 16-year battle between the federal government and Sanofi over alleged excess subsidies it paid after a judge blocked the release of a generic version of blood thinner Plavix, saying its job was not to “resurrect” a dead case.

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. 

A judge has allowed investors bringing a class action against Virgin to join Velocity Rewards to the case, despite finding the proposed claims against the frequent flyer program are “barely arguable”. 

A class action against Virgin Australia wants to drag Velocity Rewards into the case, claiming the frequent flyer program was involved in misleading investors about $460 million in funds on Virgin’s balance sheet.

The Commonwealth has lost its bid to pause a long-running dispute over a generic form of brand drug Abilify while the High Court hears a different generic drug battle.

The Commonwealth has argued that a long-running dispute involving drug makers Otsuka, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Generic Health should be put on ice until the High Court rules in a separate matter.

Media mogul Bruce Gordon says a costs dispute with Atanaskovic Hartnell should be paused until the High Court has its say on a key issue.

Carnival PLC has denied that a passenger, whose husband contracted COVID-19 and had to be put on a ventilator, had a “horrible” time aboard the ill-fated Ruby Princess, in a class action’s appeal of a finding that she was only entitled to $4,000 in damages.

A class action against Carnival over a COVID-19 outbreak aboard its Ruby Princess cruise ship has told the Full Court the lead applicant is entitled to damages “far in excess” of the $4,000 awarded by the trial judge for distress and disappointment.

Cruise operator Carnival PLC has mounted a cross-appeal aimed at overturning a judge’s finding that it negligently failed to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship, telling the Full Court that the primary judge’s findings were not consistent with his reasons.