At least five law firms are investigating lawsuits, including class action proceedings, in the wake of a landmark test case on COVID-19 exclusions for business interruption cover.
National law firm Mills Oakley has launched a new charity aimed at giving free legal advice to the Australian “missing middle” who earn too much to be eligible for Legal Aid services but who do not have enough income to hire a private lawyer.
While there was no shortage of pain and challenges for law firms as the coronavirus raged across the globe last year, a number of big firms also felt the sting of litigation from disgruntled clients, partners and employees.
A Brisbane-based law firm is being sued by a paralegal who claims she was forced to take a 20 per cent pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic on the basis of misleading statements by the firm’s director.
Billionaire Clive Palmer has offered to withdraw his High Court contempt of court lawsuit against Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan “in a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness”, but his defamation case against the state leader will continue.
Unions for 20,000 Qantas workers on stand-down orders amid the coronavirus pandemic have asked the High Court to overturn a ruling that they are not entitled to access paid sick or compassionate leave.
Reports exposing serious government and healthcare failures amid Victoria’s second COVID-19 wave have strengthened the claims in class actions against the Andrews government and two aged care providers, according to the law firm behind the cases.
The ACCC has taken legal action against women’s activewear company Lorna Jane for allegedly representing to consumers during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in Australia that its anti-virus activewear would protect them from viruses, including COVID-19.
The Full Federal Court has issued a mixed bag ruling in a business interruption insurance dispute between Suncorp subsidiary Vero Insurance and a Melbourne café and restaurant, which sought indemnity for losses incurred during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The Insurance Council of Australia has asked the High Court to weigh in on its case against COVID-19 related claims in business interruption policies, following its high stakes loss in a ruling last month that found an infectious disease exclusion did not apply.