A judge has found the state of NSW liable to compensate the lead plaintiffs in a class action brought on behalf of small businesses over the “substantial and unreasonable” interference caused by the construction of Sydney’s $3 billion light rail network, but he flagged “significant problems” in applying his findings to thousands of potential group members.
A union representing 54 junior doctors alleging they were systemically underpaid has defeated a bid by NSW Health to stay its case until the determination of a related class action on behalf of tens of thousands of medical officers.
A judge has warned the NSW government that the court does not make orders “subject to [its] internal policies” after the state failed to comply with orders to hand over documents in a class action over police strip searches.
A judge has allowed the applicants in a class action against a law firm extra time to file evidence after the death of the solicitor on record, despite protests from the firm, which is accused in the case of liability for the alleged fraud of a former employee.
Three years on from their debut, group costs orders — which entitle law firms to a percentage of any recovery in class actions — have raised a host of novel issues that are keeping lawyers and the court busy.
A judge overseeing a class action accusing Virgin Australia of failing to disclose its true financial position in a $324 million capital raising prospectus has joined a dozen insurers to the proceeding, which he said had “regrettably languished”.
Wealth manager Colonial First State Investments has agreed to pay $100 million to resolve a consumer class action alleging it charged excessive fees on superannuation accounts, in one of the biggest class action settlements of the year so far.
A court has approved a $26 million settlement in the long-running class action against cruise operator Scenic Tours, with $7 million earmarked for litigation funder Legal Justice.
A Sydney law firm running group proceedings against Hyundai and Kia over allegedly faulty anti-lock braking systems has joined forces with a NY-based class action firm that achieved a settlement worth up to $955 million against the car manufacturers in the US.
A court has found that residents living near an allegedly loud and foul-smelling Graincorp oilseed factory in rural Victoria can band together to bring a class action suit.