Industries

Class action firms and funders will set their sights on claims related to environmental, social and governance investing, says Clayton Utz’s new litigation partner Matthew Spain, but whether the game is worth the candle remains to be seen.

Mining engineering company Destec has won its bid to use evidence produced in a dispute with Mineral Resources in considering whether to bring a new case against its former director over a lucrative transportation system.

Appeals and cross-appeals are flying over a judge’s finding that engineering services firm CIMIC Group can pursue insurance claims for costs arising from allegations it engaged in corrupt practices, including a $32 million class action settlement.

The High Court has declined to hear an appeal by Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel refinery over a decision ordering it pay $26.6 million for natural gas charges.

Online trading company CMC Markets has succeeded in accessing advice given to class action members who are seeking to recover 10 years’ worth of “significant” losses incurred while trading risky financial products on its mobile and web-based platforms.

Payments processing company EML has hit back at a shareholder class action over its alleged failure to disclose Ireland central bank’s concerns about its anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing compliance, claiming swathes of the case are liable to be struck out.

Real estate investment trust NorthWest can amend its pleadings in a lawsuit alleging one of the country’s largest unlisted healthcare property funds conspired to prevent it from acquiring a controlling stake, but has come up short in its bid to add to its claims against property giant Dexus.

A judge has declined Expert Group’s bid to bring court proceedings about the amount of an earn-out owed under its agreement to sell cloud services provider Experteq IT Services, finding the firm had agreed to resolve the matter by expert determination.

The founders of farming charity Aussie Helpers have won a defamation case against a Victorian woman who made allegedly defamatory comments on Facebook that claimed they committed criminal fraud by using donations for personal purchases.

A former director of defunct mining and exploration company Continental Coal has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for failing to act in good faith in performing his directors’ duties in relation to $1 million in bridging finance.