Most Recent
Are the courts really plagued by duplicative class actions?
A fed-up judge has vented his frustration with the problem of competing class actions in a move that appears to punish the second filed case against Medibank. But is he right that the courts are increasingly being asked to deal with duplicative proceedings? And was his order really all that drastic?
PFAS class action settles for $132.7M on eve of trial
One of the two remaining class actions against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at military bases across the country has settled for $132.7 million on the eve of trial, with the final case going back to mediation.
Australian Mines ex-director hit with $70,000 penalty for conference representations
A former director of Australian Mines has copped at $70,000 penalty in ASIC proceedings accusing him of making false and misleading representations at mining investment conferences in 2018.
Opal Tower class action funder’s appeal of cuts to commission falls flat
An appeals court has shot down funder Augusta's challenge to a decision that cut its commission in the Opal Tower class action, putting funders on notice that they will have to marshal compelling evidence to win approval for their returns from an increasingly watchful court.
‘Not fit for purpose’: Court’s remarks on serious harm test show flaws in defamation law
A recent decision by the Federal Court that questioned whether the introduction of a serious harm test in defamation law could infringe the Judiciary Act has shone a light on the need for a federal defamation framework, legal experts say. 
Judge asks if he must ‘second guess’ legal advice in Linchpin class action
A judge overseeing an investor class action over the collapse of advisory firm Linchpin Capital has questioned whether he has to “effectively second guess” a law firm's advice given to group members about a partial settlement. 
Crown, AUSTRAC reach deal on penalty but court wants guidance on ill-gotten profits
Crown Resorts has reached agreement on a proposed penalty in AUSTRAC's case alleging “widespread and serious non-compliance” with anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing laws, but the presiding judge says more information is needed for the court to fix a fine.
‘Plagued with competing class actions’: Judge stays latecomer Medibank case for now
A judge aggrieved by the "plague" of competing class actions in the courts has temporarily stayed a second data breach class action against Medibank, and directed the health insurer to ask the privacy commissioner to drop the investigation of a third case.
High Court challenge could clarify scope of reliance damages
A city council in the Hunter Valley region is set to appeal to the High Court a decision that found it was liable to pay a flight company over $3.6 million in damages for wasted expenditure after it repudiated a contract to lease land at the local airport.