Barristers

Samsung Australia has been slapped with a $14 million penalty for running ads that misrepresented that its Galaxy smartphones could be used in pool and sea water.

A judge who will oversee an upcoming hearing for approval of a $20 million settlement in a class action against Optus contractor BSA has urged the parties to sever the funder’s commission and costs from the settlement to avoid delays in distribution to group members.

The former general counsel of UK-based transit payment provider Littlepay was dismissed because her legal support was “problematic”, the fintech claims in response to allegations she faced bullying and discrimination upon returning to work after giving birth.

Law firm Sparke Helmore negligently failed to alert a NSW developer to an imminent deadline for two land sale contracts in a troubled $30 million development because a paralegal, rather than a solicitor, was “at the helm”, an appeals court has heard.

An appeals court has questioned the financial forecasting that underpinned a $13 million award of damages to a former client of Maddocks in a suit over negligent legal advice that allegedly led to a botched sale and administration.

Appealing a $13 million damages judgment for negligent advice to a former client that allegedly led to a botched sale and administration, law firm Maddocks told a court Monday the business had “miniscule” chances of surviving even if the sale had been successful.

A judge has signed off on a $56.3 million settlement in a class action against wealth manager Colonial First State that will see Maurice Blackburn earn $14.5 million in costs, saying it was a good example of the class action regime in operation.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has asked the High Court to overturn an appeals court judgment that found a tweet labelling him a “rape apologist” was not defamatory.

Former Sydney Symphony CEO Emma Dunch has struck back at the orchestra’s argument that she can’t claim she was terminated for investigating claims of sexual harassment after telling the media she was the victim of a politically motivated “hit job” for seeking funding from the NSW government.

The High Court has declined to review an appeals court decision that overturned a $106 million judgment against a unit of Indian conglomerate Adani Group over access charges for its Abbot Point coal terminal.