A judge has signed off on a $1.55 million settlement to resolve two underpayments class actions against supermarket chain Romeoās, but has reduced the pay out to the law firm running the cases by 25 per cent, saying the firm had “no legal entitlement” to the fees.
The entity that employs the workforce of the On The Run convenience store chain has agreed to pay $5.8 million to settle a class action accusing it of underpaying over 8,000 workers over a six-year period.
A judge has questioned whether class actions are the best way to resolve underpayment disputes during a hearing on a settlement in two class actions against supermarket chain Romeo’s, which one group member called ācriminally unfair.ā
A law firm is seeking a funding equalisation order to have all group members contribute to the $630,000 legal bill it racked up in running an underpayments class action on behalf of Drakes store managers that has settled for $2 million.
Explaining his decision to reject a class action settlement that would have earned a law firm $1.75 million but provided nothing to 27,000 Woolworths employees, a judge has said the agreement created a conflict of interest between the solicitors and the workers they sought to set “adrift”.
A judge has ruled that the discontinuance of a class action doesn’t lift the suspension of the limitations period on group member claims, and a court order that the clock run again is needed to ensure companies don’t face potential litigation in perpetuity.
A class action on behalf of Drakes store managers claimed to be worth up to $20 million has settled for $2.2 million, and the law firm behind the proceedings wants a cut of up to $837,000.
A judge has denied an āinvasiveā bid to search hospitality giant Merivaleās payroll systems ahead of an upcoming mediation in a $129 million underpayment class action covering 13,500 employees.
Questions raised about the structure of a settlement of two wage class actions against supermarket chain Romeo’s don’t just threaten to reduce the law firm’s costs but could derail the whole agreement, a judge has said.
A judge has come down hard on a settlement in class actions against supermarket chain Romeo’s, saying group members had been kept in the dark and the costs to be paid to the plaintiffs’ firm did not add up.