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Judge rejects law firm’s updated bid in Hyundai, Kia class actions
A judge has rejected a law firm's attempt to update its bid to run class actions against Hyundai and Kia, saying the changes were intended to net the firm a competitive advantage in an upcoming fight for carriage of the class actions and different in substance from its previous position.
Second highest contingency fee wins OK in class action against FleetPartners
Previously noting the rate was "well outside the median range", a judge has made an order granting the second highest contingency fee to a law firm running a shareholder class action against vehicle company FleetPartners Group, saying he was satisfied the group costs order was appropriate and necessary.
Car dealership Eagers backpays $16M to short-changed staff
Australia’s largest car dealership Eagers Automotive has backpaid 13,000 staff more than $16 million after the Fair Work Ombudsman found that five of its subsidiaries underpaid employees. 
‘No more indulgence’: Firm that took over class actions can’t redo beauty parade bid
A judge will not allow a law firm that stepped in to lead class actions against Hyundai and Kia to amend its funding proposal to seek a group costs order ahead of a carriage fight, even though its proposal would have led to greater returns for group members.
Honda’s abandonment of dealership model not unconscionable, judge finds
A Melbourne car dealer has largely lost a consumer law case against Honda Australia over its decision to abandon a dealership model, but is set to receive compensation for over 2,600 new vehicles it could have sold if Honda hadn’t ended its five-year contract early.
Jaguar class action judge did not ‘become a witness’ in siding with G+T, says Full Court
While it was unfair for a judge to pick Gilbert + Tobin to run a class action against Jaguar Land Rover on the condition that it lower its funding rate, the judge was entitled to consider the law firm’s experience in a similar case against Toyota, an appeals court has said in its reasons. 
Toyota class action loses bid for emissions cheat source code
A class action against Toyota alleging it installed diesel defeat devices in several models of its vehicles has lost a bid to access source code for the cars’ emissions control systems, with a judge finding it was not relevant to any current fact in issue. 
Decision awarding Jaguar class action to Gilbert + Tobin shot down on appeal
A decision awarding carriage to Gilbert + Tobin in a class action against Jaguar Land Rover on the condition that it lower its funding rate lacked procedural fairness, the Full Court has found, prompting the firm to team up with its competitor to run the case. 
Isuzu, Mazda face class action investigation over allegedly faulty suspension
Isuzu and Mazda are facing a class action investigation over alleged ‘bump steer’ defects in three popular car models. 
Latecomer class action to take first swing at Mercedes-Benz
The plaintiffs in two competing class actions against Mercedes-Benz over alleged defeat devices designed to cheat regulatory emissions tests have agreed to temporarily stay the first-filed proceeding so that one filed over a year later can go ahead, a court has heard.