As Johnson & Johnson loses its second attempt to use bankruptcy protection to resolve tens of thousands of US cases over its talcum powder products, a law firm has launched a class action investigation on behalf of Australian women who regularly used the powder and were later diagnosed with cancer.
A judge’s decision to chop $810,000 from the funder’s cut of a settled class action against Westpac sounds a warning to class action litigators that when it comes to determining the size of a commission, case budgets matter.
Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has been hit with a landmark class action alleging it sold worthless extended warranties to customers for over a decade.
Discount supermarket chain Aldi has criticised a class action alleging it systematically underpaid workers across Australia to the tune of $150 million, claiming it has been served with a “bad pleading”.
After losing its argument that class actions are excluded under the Fair Work Act, the union representing fast food workers has filed a class action of its own, alleging McDonald’s denied shift managers compensation for pre- and post-shift work.
The High Court has overturned a ruling that barred foreign passengers from a class action over the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise in 2020, finding a class action waiver in the terms and conditions of their tickets was unenforceable under Australia’s consumer laws.
Medibank has asked a judge to put the kibosh on class action-style proceedings filed with the OAIC, arguing findings inconsistent with those in a class action over its October 2022 data breach could do damage to the public’s view of the court.
The date has been set for a hearing in the second case to test the argument that judges lack power to make a common fund order when a class action settles, and the litigation funder challenging the argument can expect a sympathetic ear.
The applicant in a nine-year-old class action over the government’s 2011 live exports ban has urged the Commonwealth to pay up to $900 million to settle the case, after earlier settlement efforts flopped.
The claims in two class actions alleging fast food giant KFC denied workers rest breaks are substantially similar but not identical, a court has heard, and whether or not the two cases are headed for a battle to survive remains to be seen.