Judges

A Qube unit and a developer have lost their $20 million claim alleging the Department of Defence failed to properly address asbestos contamination on leased land which was redeveloped into a terminal facility in Moorebank. 

A judge has found that expert reports submitted by Clive Palmer and his company Mineralogy in a fight against CITIC over royalty payments for the Yabulu Refinery present a “fresh case" and don't comply with court orders. 

A judge has approved Maurice Blackburn’s 30 per cent group cost order in a class action against JB Hi-Fi over worthless warranties, noting the 'high end' rate would be reviewed at a later stage.

Financial services firm Monarch Advisory Group has won over $270,000 in damages after two employees who started a new business were found to have breached restraint clauses in their contracts.

The lead applicant in a failed class action against NULIS Nominees has argued that any costs orders should be stayed until after its appeal, while the ex-NAB super trustee claims it should have $8 million in costs paid now. 

An activist group has lost a challenge to the approval of a 69-turbine wind farm in North Queensland that it says ran afoul of international treaties to protect migratory birds, with a judge finding no grounds to review the decision.

Dexus' denial of a breach of confidentiality in a battle with co-owners of airport operator APAC is unlikely to hold up, a judge has said, and what appears to have been done can't be undone. What the high-stakes row will come down to, he says, is materiality.

Federal Court Chief Justice Debra Mortimer has flagged possible limitations on cashed-up parties in commercial disputes running overly complex cases that tie the court’s resources down. 

A judge has denied Austin Engineering’s bid for a $210,000 freezing order against a former sales representative, with a judge finding there was an arguable claim for breach of confidence but no evidence of a claim to more than nominal damages. 

Developer Infinity wants to stay a case by liquidators of collapsed developer Crown Group seeking to sell the land for their stalled joint venture for a residential tower in Melbourne’s Southbank.