In a situation a judge has called “extraordinary and troubling”, Deloitte’s files on failed construction company Hastie — sought as evidence by shareholders in a class action — have vanished from the accounting giant’s locked ‘litigation room’ and are now in the control of a single partner who refuses to return them.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has not ruled out a challenge to a ruling that two Westpac subsidiaries didn’t provide personal financial advice as part of a campaign encouraging customers to roll over external superannuation accounts.
Unilever’s allegations that consumer goods competitor Beiersdorf made misleading claims about its Nivea clinical strength deodorant products don’t pass the smell test, a judge has found.
Employment relations company Employsure has been taken to court by the consumer watchdog for allegedly duping small businesses into signing long-term contracts after promising free workplace advice that appeared to be government affiliated.
Debt collector ACM Group has been hit with a $750,000 fine for engaging in unconscionable conduct by misleading, harassing and coercing two vulnerable customers while chasing unpaid debts.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has lost an appeal of a ruling that dismissed its case over allegedly inadequate disclosures by private health insurer Medibank relating to member benefits.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission wants to block former We Buy Houses director Rick Otton from using the proceeds from the sale of his $3.6 million Bondi home to help with legal costs and living expenses as he appeals a record $6 million fine for consumer law violations.
NSW Ports has criticised the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for expecting the company to file a defence to the regulator’s allegations of anti-competitive conduct from a concise statement it panned as “vague”.
A judge has slammed an amended pleading in a class action against Zoetis by horse owners who claim the pharmaceutical company made misleading claims about its Hendra virus drug, saying it presents an “insuperable difficulty”.
Hotel booking aggregator Trivago, which last month admitted to breaching the consumer laws over its travel accommodation rankings, has lost a bid to keep secret internal documents that detail why the company made changes to its website and rejigged its advertising.