High Court

The High Court has denied special leave to the Commonwealth on behalf of employees of collapsed fintech Spitfire in a battle over $2 million in research and development tax refunds.

The High Court has denied a bid for special leave by the Commonwealth Bank and other lenders to challenge a ruling that found two Arrium directors did not mislead them about loan drawdown notices ahead of the steel company’s $2.8 billion collapse. 

Probuild Constructions has failed in its special leave application to the High Court, which sought to challenge a ruling that it held $7.7 million in trust for insurer Allianz under a deed of indemnity in connection with the development of West Side Place in Spencer St, Melbourne.

The High Court has agreed to weigh in on how damages for reduction in value should be calculated under the Australian Consumer Law, granted competing special leave applications in a class action against Toyota over defective diesel filters.

The High Court will hear a $130 million case by two contractors on Chevron’s Gorgon gas field project, which argue the Western Australia Court of Appeal was outside power to uphold a ruling that set aside an arbitration win.

A leading class action firm may seek compensation for those who were illegally detained after the High Court ruled that Australia’s system of holding individuals indefinitely in immigration detention is unlawful.

New High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler was lauded by a group of legal luminaries at a swearing in ceremony, where he was described as the “unbackable favourite” for the country’s highest legal post and “the judge’s judge”.

The High Court has granted special leave to a First Nations woman in her case for damages against Queensland stemming from alleged abuse in state care 60 years ago.

Glencore-owned Viterra has failed in its bid for High Court leave to challenge a ruling in a 10-year battle with Cargill over the 2013 sale of malt producer Joe White, leaving the grain producer to fork over damages of almost $300 million.

The High Court has declined to weigh in on a dispute between a retired law firm partner and the ATO over tax on $182,000 in goodwill payments the lawyer received upon exiting the firm’s partnership.