Payouts in class actions in 2020 largely kept pace with the previous year despite the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, with companies and other defendants paying more than $696 million to settle class actions last year.
The law firm behind a class action against German manufacturer 3A Composites over allegedly combustible cladding is seeking to add a new representative group member to cover the claims of owners of property with Alucobond panels.
A judge overseeing two class actions over allegedly flammable combustible cladding used in buildings throughout Australia says he will likely keep the trials separate to avoid a ‘behemoth’ hearing.
The states of Victoria and Queensland have joined two class actions over allegedly combustible cladding as group members, with the claims in the proceedings now exceeding $500 million.
The Federal Court has approved what is thought to be only the second ever audio-visual opt out notice in a class action, a move that will make it easier for group members to find out about class actions they may be eligible for.
A judge has approved a $7 million settlement in a class action against the directors of pharmaceutical company QRxPharma, only a third of which will go to group members, saying proportionality was not a basis for rejecting fees that were otherwise fair and reasonable.
The funder backing a shareholder class action against the directors of pharmaceutical firm QRxPharma will not seek to profit from a $7 million settlement in order to bring about a better return for group members, a judge has been told.
International law firm Seyfarth Shaw has snagged a leading workplace health and safety partner from Sparke Helmore to expand its Melbourne team.
A former QRx Pharma director’s prediction that shareholders would not receive “anything of consequence” from a class action settlement has proven true, with only a small slice of the $7 million settlement expected to go to shareholders.
After “unavoidable delays”, shareholders will soon be notified of a settlement reached one year ago in a class action against QRxPharma, but a company director has warned group members will receive nothing of consequence and the law firm and funder involved in the case would be disappointed by their takeaways.