Judgment

A class action over alleged botched cosmetic surgeries can drop claims against one surgeon, but the doctor will remain a party so other defendants can point the finger at him.

A lawyer accused of trying to blackmail personal injury firm Maliganis Edwards Johnson has won a challenge to an injunction, with a judge finding the blackmail allegation was more nuanced than conveyed by the Canberra firm. 

US lab products giant Beckman Coulter has successfully opposed an Australian biotech's bid to trade mark ‘Cytophex’ for its stem cell expansion system, with an IP Australia delegate finding the mark is too similar to Beckman's ‘CytoFLEX’ mark. 

Payday lender Sunshine Loans has lost an appeal after it was ruled liable for “wrongheaded” conduct, with an appeals court finding that counsel showed an “egregious failure” to confine the case to the real issues. 

United Petroleum has successfully sued the landlords of one of its petrol stations for failing to pay for repairs to potholes described as "more like large craters".

Another fight over an $87 million mixed-use Canberra development may be on the cards, after the project's liquidators won approval to assign potential claims against WSP and builder Construction Control over alleged stitch bolt defects.

A judge has found that three directors at ASX-listed investment firm Keybridge Capital were validly removed and replaced at a meeting last month. 

Former directors of collapsed Sydney developer Dyldam have been targeted by a liquidator over claims allegedly worth at least $33 million.

General Motors has defeated a class action by Australian car dealers over its decision to retire the Holden brand, with a judge finding the car maker did not breach its agreements.

A judge has dismissed an application to restrain a Sydney solicitor from acting against his former friend in a dispute over a $3.25 million settlement deed in a dispute over their development business.