Johnathan Kirkwood

An attempt by applicants in two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven to limit communications between the convenience store giant and group members ahead of a hearing to approve a confidential settlement with ANZ, the bank that loaned money to the franchisees, unfairly delays approval of the settlement until next year, a court has heard.

A Federal Court judge has transferred a case brought against Clive Palmer and his firm Mineralogy to the Western Australian Supreme Court, where a number of suits are pending in what has been described as “litigious warfare” over the $5.8 billion Sino Iron Ore project.