Food and Beverage

A franchisee class action against United Petroleum over the installation of allegedly loss-making Pie Face stores at its franchise sites has succeeded in fending off the petrol company’s bid for security, with a judge agreeing it would have a chilling effect on the unfunded case.

The owner of Melbourne’s iconic Hopetoun Tea Rooms, which opened its doors in the Block Arcade in 1892, has sued the historic shopping arcade for allegedly mimicking its business by opening a near-identical cafe in the same location.

KFC has been served with a class action for allegedly denying workers rest breaks, just two days after a law firm announced it had launched an investigation into the fast-food giant’s break policy.

A class action investigation has been launched against KFC, which is accused of depriving tens of thousands of workers of ten-minute paid breaks during shifts.

Vittoria’s Cantarella Bros has lost its long-running trade mark stoush with Italian rival Lavazza after a judge found the coffee manufacturer’s two registered ‘Oro’ marks should be cancelled because the word was previously used by another coffee supplier. 

A judge has allowed Care A2 Plus to proceed with an appeal arguing a US lawsuit by former business partner Gensco should be blocked, saying the infant formula company will otherwise face a “risk of substantial injustice”. 

Care A2 Plus should be given leave to appeal a ruling over an overlapping US case by former business partner Gensco so that it can file a challenge in the High Court if need be, a court has heard.

The law firm that’s running a franchisee class action against United Petroleum over allegedly loss-making Pie Faces stores has has won its bid to peek at draft communications the oil giant wants to send to group members.

A judge has declined a union’s bid to throw out an employee class action against McDonald’s after the Full Federal Court confirmed that employee class actions are not precluded by the Fair Work Act. 

The Australian arm of coffee giant Starbucks has backpaid part-time workers across 52 stores $4.5 million, after discovering it failed to pay proper overtime rates.