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Judge’s ‘Foxy Robinson’ comment did not create appearance of bias: court
Darwin Airport, which is locked in litigation with an airport hotel, has succeeded in overturning a finding of apprehended bias against a Local Court judge for referencing the nickname of the hotel's director, local construction magnate John 'Foxy' Robinson.
Solicitor found guilty of misconduct for not disclosing interest in CCTV company
A Melbourne solicitor has been fined for applying for compensation on behalf of twenty clients from the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for the installation of CCTV systems by a company which she had an interest in.
Legal watchdog had power to lay charges against lawyer accused of inappropriate sexual contact: court
The South Australian legal watchdog has won its appeal of a decision which found it did not have the power to lay charges against a lawyer accused of “inappropriate and uninvited” sexual contact with a junior solicitor.
Sleeping Duck shareholder rejected $4M settlement in failed oppression suit
A Sleeping Duck shareholder has been ordered to pay the company's costs on an indemnity basis in its failed oppression suit, with a judge finding that its decisions to reject Sleeping Duck's buy-out offers of roughly $4 million were unreasonable.
Whitehaven Coal shareholders ‘trapped’ after 2012 acquisition, class action trial told
Shareholders in Whitehaven Coal who helped inject $150 million of capital during a 2012 merger are "trapped" after the ASX-listed coal producer failed to abide by its side of the deal, a class action funded by mining investor Nathan Tinkler has alleged on the first day of trial.
Judge ‘did not engage’ with necessary issues in Brisbane council worker’s negligence case
An appeals court has found that a judge was not justified in dismissing a negligence case by a call centre worker who left her job over abusive phone calls, saying the judge failed to engage with the issues needed to decide the dispute.
Class action firms can breathe easier after first contingency fee win
Class action settlement approval hearings are not a time for the court to second guess a law firm's contingency fee as set down in a group costs order, a judge has found, but the question of proportionality is still key, and evidence of a firm's return on investment and hourly fees may be relevant to the final decision.
Sydney developer on hook for $11.2M over role in Plutus blackmail scheme
A property developer has been ordered to pay $11.2 million to the liquidators of Plutus Payroll after a judge found he helped an employee of the defunct payroll services company "wash" money he blackmailed from the company’s directors.
Judge throws out defamation case over Shandee Blackburn podcast
A judge has thrown out a defamation case by John Peros, the former boyfriend of Shandee Blackburn, over a podcast by The Australian dealing with her murder, finding he did not suffer serious harm from the publication.
Class action filed over ‘substandard’ public housing in WA
A class action has been launched seeking “housing justice” for Aboriginal tenants living in alleged substandard public housing in Western Australia.