Barristers

A Melbourne law firm has lost its bid for indemnity costs after it failed to convince a judge that its settlement offer to a former client was anything more than a demand to capitulate in a “hard fought” legal battle over a $24.5 million East Melbourne development.

The NSW Court of Appeal has refused to grant Bianca Rinehart leave to appeal a decision staying a lawsuit against her mother Gina Rinehart over ownership of a $4 billion family trust.

The migration to the digital courtroom is taking its toll on the nation’s barristers, who face increased challenges and levels of fatigue from the mental load of conducting hearings remotely.

Iconic Australian beer manufacturer Carlton & United Breweries has lost an appeal seeking to shield information about 1,500 allegedly privileged documents from the Australian Taxation Office.

The Commonwealth does not have to hand over health advice given to the National Cabinet concerning Australia’s COVID-19 response and vaccine administration to the applicants in three lawsuits contesting compulsory vaccination orders by the NSW Health Minister.

Nine subsidiary Fairfax Media has agreed to pay compensation to a Papua New Guinea politician who sued the publisher for defamation for allegedly engaging in a “smear campaign”, with a judge making an order of compensation despite a “ludicrous” objection from Fairfax.

Qantas has lost its second attempt to delay a hearing on further relief pending an appeal in its outsourcing spat with the Transport Workers Union, with a judge finding a stay would prejudice the union more than the airline.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has denied the Fair Work Ombudsman is entitled to seek compensation for its underpayment of staff, saying its $330 million remediation to affected employees fully answers the regulator’s case.

Government-owned Airservices Australia has appealed an order that it pay $72,450 in fines to a civilian air traffic controllers union for withdrawing guidelines for standby shifts, which a judge found was a “serious breach” of an enterprise agreement.

Despite claims the $98 million settlement did not warrant a contradictor’s scrutiny, a judge has appointed a contradictor to represent the interests of group members in franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven as he weighs the deal.