Judges

Appealing her loss in a trade mark stoush with an Australian fashion designer, pop star Katy Perry has argued the woman “should have changed direction” with her ‘Katie Perry’ brand once the singer’s star began to rise. 

A judge has declined a novel bid by the lead applicant in a class action over disruptions stemming from the construction of Sydney’s $3 billion light rail to claim a funder’s 40 per cent commission as damages, rather than as a deduction from group members’ payout.

Two former Fortrend Securities advisors, who face litigation over their defection to a rival, have hit back with a lawsuit of their own alleging the brokerage’s CEO sent a string of angry emails in a dispute over who should foot the bill for client expenses.

A Melbourne pawnbroker is facing a class action over alleged “unjust transactions” involving loans that were given in exchange for customers’ sentimental items and with annual interest rates equivalent to 480 per cent.

A judge has extended an injunction against a NSW man who published material on social media allegedly leaked by a former Tesla employee about its self-driving software, saying the electric vehicle giant had a case on its face against him.

Honda has admitted that it owes compensation to a Melbourne car dealer for a deliberate breach of contract following its decision to ditch a dealership model in Australia, but argues a $22 million damages claim by the dealer needs a “reality check”.

Beach Energy is fighting a bid to adjourn a fight about security for costs in a shareholder class action until the firm that’s running it has more favourable evidence of its debt financing position, saying the application is “doctrinally unprecedented.”

Slater & Gordon is seeking summary dismissal of a case brought by a shareholder over the plaintiff firm’s takeover by private equity firm Allegro, saying it is not the right target for the claims.

The ACCC’s rejection of a $4.9 billion merger between ANZ and Suncorp was hardly surprising given the concentrated nature of the home loans market, but the competition regulator faced an uphill battle in having the decision upheld, an expert says.

The ACCC’s decision to block a $4.9 billion merger between ANZ and Suncorp has been set aside, with a tribunal finding the transaction will not substantially lessen competition in the home loans market or for agribusiness and SME clients in Queensland.