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Government faces 83 negligence lawsuits by asylum seekers
The Commonwealth is currently facing 83 negligence lawsuits in the Federal Court by asylum seekers who claim the government knew they were vulnerable to physical and psychological injuries and other illnesses, which could be exacerbated by detention in prison-like facilities.
Westpac cops $10M fine in personal advice case, but doesn’t say sorry
Two Westpac units have been hit with $10.5 million in fines for providing personal financial advice during a superannuation rollover campaign, with a barrister for ASIC noting the bank had not apologised or expressed regret for the conduct.
NAB super class action must cover bases with group members after landmark ruling
The applicant in a Federal Court class action against NAB superannuation trustee NULIS has been ordered to find a sample group member in light of a landmark Victoria Supreme Court ruling that found the plaintiff in a similar class action could not establish any loss.
‘Completely off the track’: Judge got it wrong in deep sleep therapy case, Full Court told
A judge who dismissed a defamation case against HarperCollins by two psychiatrists who administered the controversial deep sleep therapy at Chelmsford Private Hospital in the 1970s was criticised Monday for her ‘presumptuous cynicism’.
‘Very sad’: Cost of barristers’ fees for three days could have been avoided, FWC says
Barristers’ costs for a three-day hearing over alleged unfair dismissals of two childcare workers, which exceeded the $60,000 the workers were awarded, could have been avoided with a more “realistic” approach to negotiation, the Fair Work Commission has said.
Telegraph says art dealer’s ‘misrepresentation’ invalidates $50K settlement deal in defamation case
A $50,000 settlement agreement between Nationwide News and an art collector who alleged he was defamed by a Sunday Telegraph article was invalid because the dealer lied to the publisher, a court has been told.
Innovation patents: the end is nigh
New standalone innovation patents will no longer be able to be filed after 25 August 2021. Patentees who wish to benefit from the innovation patent system must take steps to ensure that any complete application for an innovation patent or a standard complete application (from which they could divide out later) be filed on or before 25 August 2021, say James Lawrence and Dominique Blik of Mills Oakley.
7-Eleven to pay $98M to settle franchisee class action
Convenience store giant 7-Eleven has agreed to pay $98 million to settle two class actions accusing it of misleading franchisees, the largest class action settlement reached so far this year.
Judge scolds Linchpin liquidators for ‘unsatisfactory’ conduct in class action
A judge has criticised the liquidators of collapsed financial group Linchpin Capital after they failed to inform the court whether they intend to defend class action proceedings or if default judgment should be made against the company.
Judge sets course to avoid ‘Brobdingnagian’ trial in PFAS class actions
With mediation failing to resolve an expansive class action against the federal government over its use of allegedly toxic firefighting foam, a judge has charted a plan to avoid a "Brobdingnagian" trial and efficiently determine the claims of group members around eight military bases across Australia.