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Class action firms that play nice should not have a leg up in beauty parade, court told
Appellate guidance is needed on whether a history of cooperation between law firms that brought competing class actions can be the deciding factor in a close carriage contest, the Victorian Court of Appeal has heard.
Judge fell short of expected standards of conduct, legal watchdog finds
A County Court of Victoria judge has been found to have breached the standards of conduct generally expected of judicial officers in his handling of a rape trial, following a complaint by the state's top prosecutor.
Public housing class action tossed, but judge gives applicant another shot
A judge has granted the Victorian government’s bid to dismiss a class action over its decision to retire Melbourne’s high-rise public housing towers, but allowed the applicant to recast his claim, despite protests from the state. 
Victoria Supreme Court judge a ‘convert’ on group costs orders
A judge on the Supreme Court of Victoria says he is a ‘convert’ on group costs orders, which allow law firms running class action to earn a cut of any settlement or judgment, saying GCOs will give better returns to group members and that conflicts can be managed.
Charges dropped against Victorian government over hotel quarantine program
Charges accusing Victoria's Department of Health of health and safety breaches during the state's hotel quarantine program have been dropped on the eve of trial, after the state succeeded in excluding evidence submitted to an inquiry into the disastrous program.
In discontinuing COVID-19 class action, judge weighs in on when a case is over
Proceedings are capable of being determined by the act of filing a discontinuance, a judge has said in approving an application for the discontinuance of a class action over Fire Rescue Victoria’s COVID-19 risk management practices. 
Woolworths fined $1.3M for long service leave underpayments
Woolworths has been fined $1.3 million by a magistrate after admitting it failed to pay long service leave entitlements to more than 1,000 employees.
‘It does seem very odd’: Judge questions Victoria’s bid to strike out housing class action
A judge hearing the Victorian government's bid to knock out a class action over its decision to retire Melbourne’s high-rise public housing towers has questioned the state's submission that the decision had “no effect” on the rights of tenants.
Melbourne law firm faces class action investigation
Gordon Legal is investigating a possible class action related to alleged misconduct by a late Melbourne lawyer on behalf of people who provided “large sums of money” to him and his suburban legal practice.
Class action pioneer from Maurice Blackburn will ‘strive for fair’ as new judge
As the head of Maurice Blackburn's class actions group he helped win hundreds of millions of dollars for claimants and shaped the jurisprudence around the practice. As the Victorian Supreme Court's newest judge, Andrew Watson has promised to keep up the fight for fair.