A major litigation funder in Australia is weighing its options after the High Court ended the practice of common fund orders and the Victorian Government introduced a bill allowing contingency fees, options that include establishing its own law firm
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.
Contingency fees are one step closer to becoming a reality in Australia, after the Victorian Parliament voted to advance a bill that would allow lawyers in the state to earn a percentage of recoveries in class actions.
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.
A bill under debate in the Victorian parliament that would allow class action lawyers to charge contingency fees would improve access to justice and help address the current wage theft ‘epidemic’, a state Labor politician has said.
The lead applicants in seven class actions against auto manufacturers over explosive Takata airbags have criticised the courts for losing their way in ensuring justice is done, in a landmark challenge to class closure orders made in the cases.
Two investors in failed Great Southern Group managed investment schemes have lost their latest appeal over a controversial class action settlement deed that allowed Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to enforce loans issued to fund their investments. But a third borrower, who denied he was a member of the class action, has been given the greenlight to defend the bank’s recovery proceedings.
Melbourne-based class action lawyer and litigation funder Mark Elliott has reportedly died in a vehicle accident on his farm in Flinders, Victoria.
A Victorian politician has slammed a bill that would allow lawyers running class actions in the state to charge contingency fees, calling the proposal a ‘handshake’ to the country’s two largest plaintiffs law firms.
Defending against a $300 million class action brought by Centrelink recipients over its Robodebt scheme, the Federal Government has told a court it did not owe a duty of care to people receiving benefits.