Law Firms

The federal government has flagged its intention to bring a strike-out application to narrow the group member definition in a class action by single women and same-sex couples who were denied Medicare rebates for IVF.

The publisher of the Herald Sun has filed a strike-out application against novel privacy claims by the wife of Victorian Liberals' deputy leader Sam Groth, saying it was exempt as a news outlet.

The former chief legal counsel of online travel agency Webjet is suing her former employer, claiming she was  bullied, excluded from work and eventually sacked after raising concerns about the work history of its CEO.

A judge will appoint a contradictor to weigh in on a class action's novel bid to vary the rate of a group costs order, just two months after the court approved a lower rate than was sought by the firm that's running the case.

A judge wants answers on why builder Geocon has filed a $4 million construction dispute over two Canberra developments in the Federal Court, where a separate fight with its joint venture partners is playing out. 

In response to a High Court ruling giving the Catholic Church an out for the actions of its priests, Victoria has vowed to introduce legislation to extend the vicarious liability of institutions, a move welcomed by plaintiff law firms.

The firm wants a bigger slice of any recovery in its case against Paladin Energy, but its clearer funding arrangement and realistic litigation budget give it the edge over a rival class action outfit, a judge has found.

The events described by an ex-Master Builders Association board member read like a best-seller, involving as they do boardroom drama, a secret investigation and an alleged whistleblower. But as thrilling as they sound, they don't support orders for discovery against the construction lobby group, a judge has said.

The board administering the ESSSuper fund, which is facing a class action alleging it miscalculated the entitlements of transport shift workers in Victoria, has denied any liability, saying it was not involved in determining how entitlements were calculated.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is considering amending its underpayments case against Rebel Sport owner Super Retail Group, following a significant ruling in underpayments proceedings against Woolworths and Coles.