Law Firms

Approving a settlement between insurers and group members in an investor class action against lender Axsesstoday, a judge has aired his frustration with expansive confidentiality provisions and deeds that “misapprehend the nature of the court’s role” in dealing with group members’ claims. 

The Port Authority of NSW has been sued by a sand importer for allegedly acting unconscionably when it terminated a lease agreement over a development at Glebe Island in Sydney. 

ASIC has argued a recent ruling that found Noumi waived privilege over a PwC report by providing it to the regulator could dissuade people from voluntarily disclosing information during investigations and cause a “loss of public benefit” if allowed to stand. 

McDonald’s has hit back at a class action over alleged unpaid work done by managers before and after shifts, saying it paid more than the minimum entitlements and is entitled to set off those payments against claims for compensation. 

Otsuka Pharmaceutical has hit back at suit filed by Indian generics company Sun Pharma seeking to invalidate its patent for blockbuster antipsychotic Abilify, filing a cross-claim seeking to restrain Sun Pharma from infringing the patent with a generic version of the drug.

A Melbourne sex worker has discontinued his discrimination claim against two financial service providers that denied him an EFTPOS machine, on the proviso that the companies will not refuse services to customers engaged in lawful sex work. 

Mining giant Rio Tinto faces a potential class action over allegations of sex discrimination and sexual harassment at mine sites in Australia, following a report that made “disturbing” findings about the company’s workplace culture.

A Melbourne car dealer has largely lost a consumer law case against Honda Australia over its decision to abandon a dealership model, but is set to receive compensation for over 2,600 new vehicles it could have sold if Honda hadn’t ended its five-year contract early.

A former PricewaterhouseCoopers partner has brought defamation proceedings over public statements he alleges falsely linked him to the tax leaks scandal that rocked the professional services firm last year.

Law firm Atanaskovic Hartnell has argued that its alleged failure to provide updated fee estimates while acting for a company associated with investor Nicholas Bolton did not mean he is immune from paying fair and reasonable legal fees assessed at $308,940.