A small business owner has launched proceedings against his insurer claiming he was wrongly denied pandemic coverage under a business interruption policy, one of many cases expected to be filed in the wake a landmark ruling on infectious disease exclusions that could cost insurers $10 billion.
Barristers in Victoria have fired back after a memo from the head of the Victorian bar urged them to head back to court because “shorts and thongs under the desk” are “not who we are”.
The Victorian government has passed legislation allowing the state’s courts to permanently retain digital hearings, electronic signing and remote witnessing, which were implemented last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASIC has launched its first case related to the COVID-19 pandemic, targeting personal lender ClearLoans for allegedly contravening the hardship provisions of the credit laws that resulted in “significant consumer harm”.
Women’s activewear company Lorna Jane has defended ACCC allegations that it represented to consumers during that height of the coronavirus pandemic that its activewear would protect them from viruses including COVID-19, saying it had a reasonable and proper basis for making the claims.
All Herbert Smith Freehills staff worldwide will receive a five per cent bonus in March, in addition to their usual yearly bonuses, due to the law firm’s strong performance so far this year.
The Victorian government will argue for summary dismissal of two class actions filed over the bungled COVID-19 hotel quarantine program said to be responsible for the state’s second pandemic wave last year.
A group representing insurers has filed another test case over pandemic coverage in business interruption policies, following a landmark loss in a test case concerning an infectious disease exclusion that could cost insurers $10 billion.
Ticket reseller Viagogo is seeking a stay of a $7 million penalty in litigation brought by the ACCC in light of the “catastrophic effect” of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the company appeals a court’s finding that it misled customers on an “industrial scale”.
COVID-19 vaccinations will begin this week, but most employers won’t be able to force staff to get the jab.