Chinese-based witnesses for Hytera may be able to travel to Hong Kong for cross-examination in a now rescheduled copyright trial between Motorola and Hytera, after Chinese law and the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis forced the court to vacate the hearing, initially due to start this week.
A Victorian Liberal MP seeking damages for allegedly defamatory Facebook statements has been given the green light to proceed with a judge-only trial, after jury trials were suspended in Victoria amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airlines could be the first targets of an anticipated COVID-19 class action blitz, with a major law firm threatening litigation against Qantas, Jetstar and other travel providers for compensating customers on shuttered flights with vouchers instead of full refunds.
Facing the threat of regulatory action and a possible class action, Flight Centre will refund thousands of customers who were charged a $300 fee for cancelling travel plans because of government restrictions to combat the coronavirus.
Qantas breached the Fair Work Act by failing to pay personal carers leave and compassionate leave to employees stood down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including one battling cancer and another awaiting triple bypass surgery, a court has heard.
A lower demand for legal services triggered by the coronavirus pandemic has forced law firm Gadens to reduce staff salaries by 20%.
Dentons has become the latest law firm to adopt belt-tightening measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic, announcing cuts to staff and partner pay for the next two months.
Celebrity chef Pete Evans has been fined $25,200 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for claiming an expensive light machine dubbed the Biocharger could help protect people from the coronavirus.
The administrators of Virgin Australia will not have to pay the troubled carrier’s aircraft and other lease payments, after a court granted them a temporary exemption from liability.
Voluntary administration was the only option for Virgin, and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the airline’s decline could present a unique opportunity for the administrators to push the boundaries of corporations law, according to insolvency experts.