A judge has rejected a proposed common fund order in the settled KPMG class action, saying the funder’s commission was “arguably excessive” and could result in a “stratospheric” return to the firm.
A class action has been filed against a NSW state government-controlled entity over Sydney’s scandal-plagued Opal Tower, in a claim that is expected to seek millions of dollars of compensation on behalf of hundreds of apartment owners.
Accounting firm Grant Thornton has thrown off prior concerns and agreed to take on the dual role of scheme administrator of a confidential settlement by KPMG in the Discovery Metals shareholder class action and costs contradictor of Piper Alderman’s $3.5 million legal bill.
A catfight has broken out between construction equipment and workwear maker Caterpillar and sneaker giant Puma, with Caterpillar arguing Puma’s ‘procat’ trade mark is deceptively similar to its ‘cat’ marks.
The settlement of the Discovery Metals investor class action against KPMG has experienced another setback, after scheme administrator Grant Thornton flagged a potential conflict of interest in acting as a costs contradictor over Piper Alderman’s controversial $3.5 million legal bill.
Merck Sharp & Dohme has claimed ownership of a Pfizer patent related to the blockbuster Prevnar 13 vaccine, after a doctor who moved between the pharmaceutical companies and is listed as an author on the patent allegedly accessed confidential Merck documents before jumping ship to Pfizer.
A court has barred US drug company Merck Sharp & Dohme from denying that an agreement made with German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA was governed by German law, settling a key question before a trade mark case between the two drug giants goes to trial.
Two former executives of Dick Smith may seek to vacate an upcoming trial date for two class actions against the failed retailer, after recently being hit with cross claims by the company’s former auditor, Deloitte.
A judge has refused to approve Piper Alderman’s $3.5 million in legal fees charged for running a class action against KPMG, appointing Grant Thornton as contradictor and giving the auditor the ability to seek assistance from the court for any future disputes about the controversial bill.
The Federal Court has granted auto giant Ford’s request for the costs of an anti-suit injunction it sought in the PowerShift transmission class action that was ultimately unnecessary after the class was denied its bid to access discovery from similar proceedings in the United States.