The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been asked to investigate Qantas’ “unworkable” flight credit redemption scheme, which consumer group Choice says places unreasonable hurdles in the way of travellers trying to get a refund or redeem vouchers.
A court has dismissed a challenge by a Liberal Party member to a decision by prime minister Scott Morrison and two other members of the federal executive to endorse incumbents to contest seats in NSW at the upcoming election, a ruling that paves the way for the PM to name the date.
The competition regulator has proposed to deny authorisation for a patent settlement that sought to permit early entry of generic drugs. Whether the companies involved will be able to quell the ACCC’s concerns remains to be seen, but what is clear is that future authorisation applications will contend with significant forensic challenges, writes Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s Odette Gourley, Richard Flitcroft, David Fixler and Ian Reynolds.
The practice of appointing independent consultants to scrutinise legal costs in class actions has accelerated in the past four years and has resulted in millions of dollars going to group members, a new report reveals.
Questions raised about the structure of a settlement of two wage class actions against supermarket chain Romeo’s don’t just threaten to reduce the law firm’s costs but could derail the whole agreement, a judge has said.
Novartis wants to appeal a ruling in its dispute with generic drug maker Pharmacor over patents for its multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya that tossed three of its four experts out of an upcoming so-called hot tub.
Ashurst has snagged three Norton Rose Fulbright partners to join its corporate and projects team as part of its plan to grow its energy and resources practice in the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite the Morrison government’s decision to shelve its latest proposed class action reforms before the election, there are plainly competing perspectives between those in government that seek to politicise the class action regime and industry experts — including judges — about the appropriate management of class actions, writes Slater & Gordon’s Claire Pirie.
A judge has ordered that $1.27 million be set aside to cover the costs of the law firm administering the settlement in the class action over the federal government’s Robodebt scheme, cutting about $1 million from the figure sought.
WA Attorney-General John Quigley wants a second go at his trial testimony in a defamation case brought by mining magnate Clive Palmer, admitting he made “mistakes” while giving evidence in the witness box.