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Stage set for battle over court’s power to vary class action funding agreements
A judge's decision refusing to approve a $42 million settlement in a shareholder class action against Murray Goulburn because of a "too high" funder's commission has set the stage for a showdown over the power of courts to alter funding agreements, a battle potentially more consequential than the fight over common fund orders now before the High Court.
Former GM settles lawsuit against Manpower over termination
A former general manager of Manpower Services has settled a lawsuit brought against the international recruitment company alleging he was unlawfully terminated for complaining about the performance of the company's Experis brand.
Courtside with the swift ‘Hammer’ of justice
Justice David Hammerschlag of the NSW Supreme Court has a way with words that readily lends itself to dramatic courtroom headlines. The "Hammer," as he is known, also pulls no punches and is quick with one liners that keep counsel on their toes. Here, Lawyerly looks at some of the recent best moments inside courtroom 7D.
Allens class actions ace Jenny Campbell thrives on the unpredictable
The careful, methodical approach of 20-year class action veteran and Allens partner Jenny Campbell is in demand in the fast-changing class action world, where the only certainty is uncertainty.
Judge tosses lawsuit against personal injury firm over sexual assault settlement
A judge has dismissed a professional negligence claim against a personal injury law firm, finding no prospect of success for a former client who alleged the firm "coerced" him into settlement of a workplace sexual assault case so they could receive their costs.
Judge rejects $42M Murray Goulburn class action settlement, says funder’s cut too high
A judge has refused to sign off on a $42 million settlement of a class action against dairy giant Murray Goulburn, saying the commission sought by the funder appeared out of proportion to the risk and above the going rate.
Female barristers doing more work for less overall pay, new report shows
A new report from the Law Council of Australia has revealed female barristers are doing more work for less money overall, with equitable briefing improvements outstripped by slow growth in fee parity.
NSW government points finger at developer in Opal Tower class action
The NSW government's Sydney Olympic Park Authority, which is facing a class action brought by owners of apartments at the troubled Opal Tower, has laid the blame on the developer, designer and builder behind the project.
Channel 7 loses defamation case over ‘manifestly unreasonable’ welfare cheat story
Channel Seven has lost a six-year defamation battle over a Today Tonight story that described a woman on single parenting payments as "the Centrelink cheat who got away”, after an appeals court found the publication was "manifestly unreasonable".
Solidarity forever: Trade unions make the class action regime strong
Against a backdrop of an industrial relations system which has diminished union and workers’ power, class actions are again re-emerging as an alternative tool to challenge employers’ unlawful conduct. And in the current class actions landscape, the ability to run closed class proceedings on behalf of union members, or otherwise offer alternative fee arrangements to non-members in open class proceedings, is essential to trade unions’ willingness to embrace the representative proceeding regime, writes Slater & Gordon lawyer Alex Blennerhassett.