Practitioners have marked the passing of former NSW Supreme Court Justice Andrew Rogers KC, who will be remembered for transforming commercial litigation through his vigorous, often “brutal” approach to case management.
A former top judge appointed to decide the first-ever contest to administer a class action settlement has set out his criteria for making the choice, and has warned that giving the firm running a case a monopoly right to dole out the proceeds could lead to higher costs for group members and poorer settlement outcomes.
The Federal Court’s recently retired top judge has landed on his feet with his appointment by the court as referee to determine which of a group of competing firms should dole out a $300 million settlement that resolved the J&J pelvic mesh class actions.
The legal industry has praised the historic appointment of Debra Mortimer as the first female Chief Justice of the Federal Court, noting her modern approach to managing cases and compassionate nature.
Justice Debra Mortimer will become the first female Chief Justice of the Federal Court, with the attorney-general praising the judge for her widely recognised legal acumen.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has lost its challenge to a decision that tossed its case alleging NSW Ports stymied competition when it signed a 50-year agreement with the state to privatise two ports.
Editors and journalists from Australia’s largest news organisations have protested recent changes to the Federal Court Rules that restrict the public’s access to documents filed with the court, calling it a “full-frontal assault” on open justice.
The founder of investment group Mayfair 101 must foot half his costs of a successful appeal of a 20-year ban on fund raising because of the many “spurious” grounds of appeal he pressed.
Insurer Bond & Credit Company is seeking to join Greensill Group to three lawsuits over the financing firm’s $1.7 billion collapse in March 2020, while Greensill has foreshadowed its own cross-claims against Insurance Australia Group.
Insurers will file de-classing applications in four class actions on behalf of small businesses seeking coverage under business interruption policies for losses flowing from COVID-19 restrictions after their test cases largely failed.