King & Wood Mallesons

Telstra’s case against two family members of a former employee accused of stealing millions of dollars in phones and other electronics has been paused pending the outcome of criminal proceedings, with a court finding the telco’s pursuit of proceeds of the alleged crime would prejudice the pair’s right to silence.

A judge has made soft class closure orders in a shareholder class action against Medibank after the High Court has been asked to resolve a split on the issue by intermediate appellate courts.

Contractor Kingfisher Mobile has dropped a claim against Telstra in a $45 million lawsuit alleging the telco breached a November 2022 contract when it engaged a new provider to take over. 

Transurban has settled a lawsuit by the former head of legal for its West Gate Tunnel project alleging she was made redundant after complaining about a “culture of fear and intimidation on the project”.

Characterising a settled lawsuit by a Westpac senior executive alleging employment breaches as a “private” matter, a judge has made broad confidentiality orders that bar public access to the case.

Lendlease, which is facing claims by a former Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills partner over its alleged “aggressive taxation position”, has failed in its bid for orders that evidence of the partner’s alleged loss be filed before mediation.

The ex-chair of former ANZ unit OnePath “has not been cooperating” in a class action alleging it breached its duties as a trustee of superannuation funds by slugging members with excessive fees to pay commissions to financial advisers, a court has heard. 

Building materials manufacturer 3A Composites has lost a challenge to questions for a judge at an initial trial of a class action over combustible cladding, with a judge finding the issue of whether the company’s Alucobond panels were of acceptable quality was common to all group members. 

AFL merchandise maker FanFirm has won a trade mark case against US sports merchandise giant Fanatics, with a judge finding it knew about the Australian company’s ‘Fanatics’ trade marks when it chose its corporate name.

A judge has rebuffed a developer’s bid to revive a $400 million lawsuit against an investor after it failed to comply with a guillotine order, saying it was not an adequate explanation that the firm of solicitors acting for it lacked the resources of the defendant’s Big Six outfit.