Six law firms are working on a consolidated trial of multiple class actions over the collapse of retailer Dick Smith, but when the trial opened in the NSW Supreme Court this week, a lone barrister appeared in court before Justice Michael Ball, amid a sea of empty bar tables. Most of the hearing’s participants joined through a virtual courtroom while members of the public were invited to watch the trial unfold on a YouTube live stream. Welcome to litigating in the age of the coronavirus.
Hong Kong-based casino group Melco Resorts must hand over documents claimed to be privileged to a NSW public inquiry into James Packer’s Crown Resorts, with an appeals court ruling the inquiry had the power of a royal commission.
The number of law firms forcing staff to work remotely in response to concerns about exposure to the new coronavirus has grown, with four firms making the decision Thursday to shut down floors or whole offices.
Staff at the Sydney office of Clayton Utz can return to work Monday after the law firm sent employees home last week amid concerns that one of its employees has been exposed to the coronavirus.
A judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson to include a graphic warning on the patient information leaflets and instructions for use that accompany four of its pelvic mesh products, following a class action over the devices which saw the three lead applicants awarded $2.6 million in damages.
Agricultural fund management firm Rural Funds Management is seeking over $625,000 in damages from US short seller Bonitas Research, which was found by the NSW Supreme Court to have engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in a report describing RFM’s equity as “ultimately worthless” that sent the firm’s share price plummeting.
Law firm Clayton Utz has sent staff at its Sydney office home amid concerns that one of its employees may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
A judge has directed solicitors for deceased lawyer and funder Mark Elliott to search for his missing mobile phone, which is wanted for potential evidence by a court-appointed contradictor investigating alleged professional misconduct on the part of the legal team behind a settled class action against failed Banksia Securities.
A Federal Court judge has awarded combined damages of $2.6 million to the lead applicants in the Johnson & Johnson pelvic mesh class action, following a landmark ruling in November which found that the pharmaceutical giant did not adequately warn of the risks of the implants.
An individual claimant accusing AMP Financial Planning of ignoring multiple attempts to gain remediation for alleged insurance re-writing conduct was granted permission to voice his displeasure in court, while ASIC and AMP grapple with the details of a remediation program for insurance churn victims.