The director of the Forum Group companies accused of a $360 million fraud involving at least three major banks can’t return to Australia from Greece because he has COVID-19, his lawyer has told the Federal Court.
When trial begins next month in the ACCC’s cartel case against BlueScope Steel, the parties will all appear by video, with a judge saying “hybrid” hearings – where some parties are in court and others appear by video – were “unsatisfactory”.
ASICās case accusing Westpac of insider trading before the $16 billion privatisation of electricity provider Ausgrid should be heard āas quickly as the court can deal with itā, a judge has said.
Japanese bankng giant SMBC has emerged as the latest lender with exposure to an alleged fraud carried out by Sydney-based Forum Finance, with proceedings filed seeking recovery of almost $99 million it says it paid to a unit of Forum Group and controversial director Bill Papas.
Tabcorp and its Tatts unit have filed three proceedings against the ATO this year, with the gambling giants asking the court to allow a total of $538 million in deductions for gambling licences in three states over three financial years.
ASIC is seeking $1.5 million in penalties against insurers Allianz and AWP after they admitted to misleading or deceiving the public by selling travel insurance to ineligible customers through three Expedia-owned websites.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken legal action against international dental care company Smile Direct Club for allegedly misleading tens of thousands of consumers with claims they would be eligible for private health insurance coverage for their aligner teeth straighteners.
Zurich Group life insurance subsidiary OnePath Life will refund $35 million to 40,000 customers who were sold life insurance over the phone and were subject to “egregious” sales practices.
ASIC may end exemptions for law firms running class actions under conditional costs schemes from complying with registration and licensing requirements that were put in place as part of the federal governmentās reforms targeting litigation funders.
The Federal Court has ordered the winding up of Forum Finance, which has been accused by Westpac and French investment bank Societe Generale of a $263 million fraud, as details of the company’s jetsetting director’s planned return to Australia from Europe remain murky.