Judges

A group of Australia’s leading beef and dairy companies has failed to strike-out a suit alleging their genetic testing system for cattle infringes the patent of a US genomics company, with a judge rejecting objections to the phrase ‘further or in the alternative’.

Advisory firm Perpetual has lost its bid for an injunction against a former senior advisor after 22 of his long-time clients tried to follow him to a rival firm. 

Paint maker AkzoNobel must produce a document history log that includes embedded comments from its lawyers at Clayton Utz, in a dispute over alleged defective coating used on the $45 billion Ichthys natural gas project.

Debt management firm Solve My Debt Now will face trial over claims by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission that it left vulnerable customers worse off, despite indicating last year it would admit liability.

A unit of Capital Property Group, which owns the Denman Prospect shopping centre in Canberra, has won its bid for subpoenas from lease holders that are fighting its opposition to their plans to sell their businesses.

Mercedes-Benz has taken aim at an amended group definition in a class action over alleged defeat devices designed to cheat emissions testing, with a judge agreeing that it contains "ambiguities and circularities".

A failed class action against Queensland utilities Stanwell and CS Energy can't delay payment of what might be in excess of $30 million in defence costs while it pursues an appeal, but has dodged a penalty for running a case the companies said was hopeless.

A former Trademax trader who allegedly worked for a rival platform while employed by the firm has been ordered to court for questioning over claims he did not have access to crucial documents.

A class action brought by investors of failed advisory firm Linchpin has reached a settlement with insurer AIG — the last remaining defendant in the case.

Hastie's special purpose liquidators have won court approval to enter into a further funding agreement as it pursues cases against Hall & Wilcox, which previously represented the collapsed engineering firm.