Judges

The former deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party will be required to give evidence in person in a defamation case against party leader John Pesutto by expelled party member Moira Deeming, with a judge noting the importance of cross-examination “chemistry” where credibility is at issue.

Legal action by a Melbourne Football Club member challenging the AFL club’s board election rules has been dismissed, with a judge finding the rule banning campaigning by candidates is not oppressive as alleged.

Convenience store chain On the Run is mulling proceedings against United Petroleum, which allegedly paid $120,000 to a public relations firm to run a “misleading” ad campaign accusing it of wage theft. 

A Sydney barrister and solicitor have settled a dispute over a $320,000 bill initially estimated to cost $60,000 after an appeals court found two costs agreements were void and held that courts should take a “purposive approach” to the rules governing costs disclosure obligations. 

Banks targeted in long-running class actions over flexible commission schemes for car dealers are resisting the plaintiffs’ bid to amend their pleadings to “get around” the defence that certain claims are time-barred.

The High Court has been asked to weigh in on whether the Federal Court’s prevailing approach to the disclosure requirements of the Patents Act “imposes too great a burden” on patent applicants.

An underpayments class action against Sydney Trains has flagged an application to exclude unregistered group members from any settlement, as the High Court steps in to resolve an appellate court split on the power to make class closure orders.

The NSW appeals court has clarified the operation of the Uniform Law in the state, finding that insurers offering professional indemnity insurance to legal practitioners must be approved by the state’s Attorney General.

A class action accusing the New South Wales government of unfair persecution of  south coast Indigenous groups for engaging in cultural fishing practices has slammed the state’s defence as “poor in the extreme”.

Fortescue has rejected Element Zero’s “implausible” claims that the start-up’s founder was instructed by the mining giant’s IP manager to access and delete certain documents after his resignation, as it defends allegations that search orders it won over the alleged misappropriation of its confidential information were based on weak evidence.