Western Australia

After a win in their spat over the sale of Brazil's Santa Rita nickel mine, two Australian companies who held all shares in the mine's owner, Atlantic Nickel, may seek costs against Omni Bridgeway and Balance REV, the litigation funders of the loser in the case.

Liquidators for defunct residential builder Modco have defeated a summary dismissal bid in a case over unfair preference payments but have been ordered to pay indemnity costs after 10 months passed without them taking a step in the proceeding.

In a loss for builder Ventura Home Group, a Western Australia tribunal has found the state's building commissioner can issue a remedy order over the installation of alleged faulty pipes at a residential property.

The liquidators of an unregistered managed investment scheme run by convicted fraudster Chris Marco have fended off a summary dismissal application by investors, with a judge finding that it was not so obvious that they would be entitled to a good faith defence to warrant tossing the case. 

A judge has taken a Perth law firm to task after a junior solicitor was left to apologise for a failure to comply with court orders in proceedings against BP, saying one of the principals should have taken responsibility instead. 

Mineral Resources has won a bid for more documents in its fight with the Pilbara Ports Authority over the validity of a channel charge. 

A Federal Circuit Court judge who has been in the spotlight for his decisions has scolded a Perth law firm and barrister facing a sexual harassment case, after they sought to vacate the trial date due to counsel availability.

Traditional land owners in the central Pilbara have filed a class action to force the removal of dumped asbestos waste, some 60 years after the Wittenoom asbestos mines closed and the town was struck from the map.

Alcoa has been hit with a $55 million fine for clearing land in Western Australia's Northern Jarrah Forest without seeking approval, but environmental groups say the penalty is a slap on the wrist for the US mining giant.

Ashurst has appointed a new partner to its restructuring and governance practice, nabbing a partner from HWL Ebsworth who represented the receivers of investment platform Brite Advisors.