Region

A law firm has commenced an investigation into a potential class action against the Victorian government on behalf of survivors of historical child sexual abuse at government schools. 

A judge has railed against the parties in a class action against Sydney-based plastic surgeon Daniel Lanzer and four of his associates for “repeated failure to comply with court orders” in the two-year-old case.

Qantas has been hit with a $250,000 fine for standing down a health and safety representative who directed co-workers to cease unsafe work during COVID-19, with a judge saying the airline’s conduct was “shameful” and designed to “advance its own commercial interests”.

The leader of an abusive New Age cult operating out of northern NSW has lost her defamation case against a former follower who wrote a tell-all book about her experiences, after a judge found she was a “dishonest and unreliable” witness.

A judge has rejected Scenic Tours’ bid to declass a second class action brought by disappointed passengers on a series of European cruises and exclude international customers from the proceeding.

The Supreme Court of Queensland has found that a 2021 direction for police officers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination was unlawful and a similar mandate for ambulance service workers had no effect.

Appealing findings of serious corrupt conduct over her award of state funds to the district of then boyfriend and member of parliament Daryl Maguire, former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has told a court politicians can have “personal attachments” while still acting in the public interest.

A judge has ruled hearsay evidence given by Ashurst solicitors is sufficient for Racing Victoria to bring a claim for legal professional privilege over documents ordered to be produced to Racing NSW, which alleges it was the victim of an anti-competitive plot.

A judge has declined a novel bid by the lead applicant in a class action over disruptions stemming from the construction of Sydney’s $3 billion light rail to claim a funder’s 40 per cent commission as damages, rather than as a deduction from group members’ payout.

Honda has admitted that it owes compensation to a Melbourne car dealer for a deliberate breach of contract following its decision to ditch a dealership model in Australia, but argues a $22 million damages claim by the dealer needs a “reality check”.