The head of law firm Levitt Robinson has avoided being personally hit with costs in a franchisee’s lawsuit against failed restaurant chain Fogo Brazilia, despite a judge finding he made “serious misjudgments” in his handling of the case.
Car giant General Motors, which faces a class action by former Holden franchisees, wants to strip the case of class status, arguing that “idiosyncrasies” in group member claims could result in further lawsuits even after a judgment in the case.
7-Eleven has reached an in-principle agreement to settle two class actions which accused the convenience store giant of misleading franchisees and underpaying employees at its stores.
Two executives of failed car washing franchise Geowash have failed in their attempt to overturn a $2.7 million penalty for overcharging and misleading franchisees, with the Full Court finding they had engaged in “a consistent pattern of conduct which was deceitful and dishonest”.
The power to make common fund orders in class actions is a question before the High Court a second time, but the justices aren’t likely to quell the conflict simmering in the courts below, at least until they have a concrete order before them.
The liquidator of restaurant chain Fogo Brazilia has been ordered to hand over communications with law firm Levitt Robinson as creditors seek to oust him from his role over alleged breaches of duty relating to a class action investigation.
The failed franchisor behind the Jump Swim Schools brand has been hit with a $23 million penalty for what a Federal Court judge found were “very serious” consumer law contraventions.
Gym chain Viva Leisure is reportedly facing a potential class action alleging the company has engaged in unconscionable conduct in its dealings with a group of franchisees.
A judge has shot down what he called a “risky” but novel proposal by 7-Eleven for a pre-trial ruling on sample objections to the relevance of evidence in two franchise class actions.
Restaurant chain Hog’s Breath Café is facing a class action for allegedly misappropriating franchisee funds meant for advertising, including by paying a director’s girlfriend as a “consultant”.