Barristers

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. 

A judge overseeing a class action by family members and deceased estates of the Northern Territory Stolen Generations, which settled for $50.45 million, has said the case was a “positive example” of representative actions.

A former capital partner has called on HWL Ebsworth to produce communications between managing partner Juan Martinez and other members of the management team that allegedly preceded a decision to shut him out of the law firm’s plans to float on the ASX. 

The judge overseeing defamation cases brought by accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith will deliver his long-awaited findings next week, ruling on whether allegations of civilian murder in Afghanistan against the country’s most decorated living soldier are substantially true.

Spain has foreshadowed a fresh High Court challenge claiming it is immune from proceedings brought by a renewable energy company and a Deutsche Bank subsidiary to enforce arbitration awards totalling $166.7 million related to changes to its renewable energy policies.

Mining engineering company Destec has won its bid to use evidence produced in a dispute with Mineral Resources in considering whether to bring a new case against its former director over a lucrative transportation system.

Appeals and cross-appeals are flying over a judge’s finding that engineering services firm CIMIC Group can pursue insurance claims for costs arising from allegations it engaged in corrupt practices, including a $32 million class action settlement.

The High Court has declined to hear an appeal by Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel refinery over a decision ordering it pay $26.6 million for natural gas charges.

Online trading company CMC Markets has succeeded in accessing advice given to class action members who are seeking to recover 10 years’ worth of “significant” losses incurred while trading risky financial products on its mobile and web-based platforms.

Payments processing company EML has hit back at a shareholder class action over its alleged failure to disclose Ireland central bank’s concerns about its anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing compliance, claiming swathes of the case are liable to be struck out.