Judges

A judge wants answers on why builder Geocon has filed a $4 million construction dispute over two Canberra developments in the Federal Court, where a separate fight with its joint venture partners is playing out. 

Court orders have been issued barring a director of cryptocurrency exchange operator Blockchain Global from travelling outside Australia while the corporate regulator investigates the collapse of the exchange.

The firm wants a bigger slice of any recovery in its case against Paladin Energy, but its clearer funding arrangement and realistic litigation budget give it the edge over a rival class action outfit, a judge has found.

The events described by an ex-Master Builders Association board member read like a best-seller, involving as they do boardroom drama, a secret investigation and an alleged whistleblower. But as thrilling as they sound, they don't support orders for discovery against the construction lobby group, a judge has said.

The board administering the ESSSuper fund, which is facing a class action alleging it miscalculated the entitlements of transport shift workers in Victoria, has denied any liability, saying it was not involved in determining how entitlements were calculated.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is considering amending its underpayments case against Rebel Sport owner Super Retail Group, following a significant ruling in underpayments proceedings against Woolworths and Coles.

Trial has kicked off in ASIC's first-ever design and distribution suit over high-risk contracts for difference, after an in-principle agreement reached with investment company eToro fell through.

Refusing to sit out a criminal trial against Boral Cement, a judge has said his sentencing of an engineering firm that pleaded guilty in the SafeWork NSW case did not disqualify him.

Private equity firm Goldstone has lost its bid to disqualify a judge from a damages hearing after he found it liable for shareholder oppression of its managing director.

The judge overseeing a class action against TeleChoice has told the parties to be “prepared to spend the money” to advance the case after settlement talks stalled, saying the court is “not going to allow this to drag on”.