A failed challenge by baby food maker Bellamy’s Australia to a decision rejecting its application to limit legal costs in two class actions was “not strong”, but was not so unreasonable as to put them on the hook for indemnity costs, the Full Federal Court has ruled.
The Fair Work Ombudsman says she is “very concerned” by the level of non-compliance with workplace laws by national sandwich franchise Subway, as inspectors recover another $80,000 in unpaid wages on behalf of more than 150 employees.
The competition watchdog has given Canadian dairy producer Saputo the green light to acquire Australian competitor Lion Dairy’s cheese processing plants, but has warned any further consolidation in the Tasmanian dairy sector would cause significant concern.
The special purpose liquidator appointed to four companies in the collapsed James Estate Wines group has been given the go-ahead by a judge to enter into a litigation funding arrangement with the conglomerate’s former director and pursue $57.1 million in potential claims against ANZ Banking Group.
Dairy giant Fonterra has lost its bid to stop Vitasoy from registering its slogan ‘Growing Milk Since 1940’ as a trade mark, after unsuccessfully arguing that consumers would be misled by the lack of animal milk in Vitasoy’s soy and almond milk products.
The Federal Government wants the High Court to weigh in on a landmark ruling last month that found food manufacturing giant Mondelez was short-changing its Tasmanian shift workers on their personal leave entitlements under the Fair Work Act.
Aldi has failed in its attempt to block applications for three ‘Alby’ trade marks filed by a Western Australian craft brewery, thanks to the supermarket chain’s lack of reputation for selling beer in Australia.
The competition regulator is opposing a deal to combine two of Australia’s largest manufacturers of chilled ready meals, and fired a warning shot to companies and administrators who fail to ensure the watchdog is notified of deals with close competitiors.
Concerns about duplicative costs in multiple class actions are better addressed by case management decisions aimed at cutting excessive expense, not by limiting the amount lawyers representing group members can spend, the Full Federal Court has said in dismissing an appeal by baby food maker Bellamy’s.
Bellamy’s has lost its appeals court battle to limit the costs incurred by lawyers jointly running two shareholder class actions against the baby food maker.