Life insurer TAL has stood by its decision to deny coverage to a cancer patient, which landed it in hot with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, saying it would not have issued the policy had it known the patient saw a psychologist on several occasions.
Financial services provider IOOF may have beaten back regulatory action, but it still faces the wrath of shareholders, with a new class action claiming the firm engaged in corporate misconduct that includes insider trading, front running and breaches of trustee duties.
Westpac has criticised Shine Lawyers for allegedly turning a registration and opt out notice to class action members into a ‘sales pitch’ designed to book-build for the firm, saying the High Court’s recent common fund ruling forbade approval of anything designed to boost the commercial viability of a case.
Supermarket giant Coles may be hit with a class action after it was revealed on Tuesday that the company owes staff in its supermarket and liquor businesses at least $20 million in pay.
Dam operator Seqwater will appeal its loss in a long-running class action over the 2011 Queensland floods that destroyed over 2,000 homes, a move derided by the lawyer for the flood victims, who called for “an end to the injustice” her clients have suffered.
A former managing director of Australian civil infrastructure contractor WBHO Infrastructure and his firm have lost their bid to cross-examine the company’s instructing solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth as part of a $1 million share dispute that followed his termination.
A former prosecutor working for the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions in its sexual offences division has won a $435,000 judgment by the state’s Supreme Court after being diagnosed with depression and PTSD during her time working there.
The judges overseeing two competing class actions against Monsanto in the Federal and Victorian Supreme Courts may hold a joint sitting as the multiplicity fight continues and the chemical giant flags a future bid to either transfer or permanently stay the state court proceeding.
Popstar Katy Perry has rejected claims of trade mark infringment by Sydney-based fashion designer Katie Perry, saying the designer “encouraged or acquiesced to” the singer’s use of her name on branded clothing sold in Australia.
Caterpillar has scored a victory in one of several legal challenges the construction equipment manufacturer has launched to protect its ‘cat’ trade marks, successfully opposing the registration of the ‘ironcat’ mark for tyres and auto maintenance.