A judge has struck out part of a class action against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia that alleges it kept investors in the dark about deficiencies in its systems for monitoring money laundering and terrorism financing risks, saying it wasn’t clear what the bank was expected to disclose.
A year after the Federal Court issued its important ruling on competing class actions and foreshadowed orders prohibiting duplicative legal fees, the company at the centre of the proceedings — organic baby food maker Bellamy’s — has called on the court to make good on its promise about costs.
A subsidiary of car leasing company McMillan Shakespeare faces a class action over vehicle warranties that gave the company “complete and unfettered” discretion to reject claims by customers.
Plaintiffs law firm Slater & Gordon is considering a class action against gynaecologist Dr. Emil Gayed, who was found guilty of professional misconduct after patients complained of undergoing unnecessary surgery and not giving informed consent to procedures.
Concerns that the proposed acquisition of Sirtex Medical by a Chinese private equity firm would leave the company with insufficient funds to cover a settlement or judgement in a class action were eased Wednesday, after a barrister said the takeover would leave the company with just under $1 billion in assets.
Facing the possibility of more class actions related its use of allegedly toxic firefighting foam at military bases throughout Australia, the Commonwealth has turned to one of the country’s largest firms for its defence in the two most recently filed cases.
Sydney-based law firm Bannister Law has asked a court to consolidate two class actions against troubled sandalwood oil producer Quintis, and has made its pitch for leading the joint proceedings.
The judge overseeing lawsuits by the ACCC as well as multiple class actions against Volkswagen AG over the Dieselgate scandal has ordered the car maker to provide the names of executives who were responsible for the development of the emissions cheating software.
A second class action has been filed alleging GST was improperly charged on apartment sales in the ACT.
Maurice Blackburn has filed its promised class action against BHP Billiton over the Brazilian dam collapse, and the case puts a twist on typical funding arrangements, with the law firm looking to earn what it dubs a “litigation services fee” for financing the case itself.