Payouts in class actions in 2020 largely kept pace with the previous year despite the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, with companies and other defendants paying more than $696 million to settle class actions last year.
Last-mile logistics software company GetSwift has ceased trading on the ASX after its relocation to Canada got the greenlight by the Federal Court and FIRB despite the company facing ongoing litigation in Australia.
A lawyer for group members in a class action against Toyota is seeking aggregate damages relating to vehicle defects that allegedly had a “significant impact” on fuel consumption.
The Transport Workers’ Union has amended its case against Qantas challenging a decision to outsource 2,000 jobs, after a Federal Court judge urged the union to consider narrowing the lawsuit against the airline.
Properties near seven air force bases where allegedly toxic firefighting foam was used experienced a drop in land value because of the “stigma” of contamination, according to an expert report accepted by the Federal Court in a class action seeking compensation from the Federal government.
Lawyers for the lead applicant in a stayed class action against Bayer-owned Monsanto over its weedkiller Roundup cannot access discovered documents in a separate class action against the agricultural giant in advance of mediation next year.
A judge has approved a settlement he previously expressed a “nagging feeling of disquiet about” in a class action against fundraiser Appco Group, after group members “overwhelmingly” supported the proposal and further cash assets were uncovered that increased the settlement amount to $2.05 million.
A judge has signed off on settlements in two class actions against a defunct Sydney-based financial advisory firm by a group of Chinese investors over a property investment and visa scheme that allegedly saw group members lose $30 million in funds.
A unit of Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay around $40 million in legal costs to the lead applicants in a class action over pelvic mesh implants after a judge dismissed the company’s bid to stay the costs until after a high profile appeal is heard next year.
A News Corp subsidiary has hit back at a defamation lawsuit by a Sydney-based solicitor claiming two Daily Telegraph articles implied he was too old and deaf to represent clients, filing a defence denying that the imputations were conveyed.