Princess Cruises and the Federal Government could face negligence claims — and a possible class action — by passengers of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, which docked in Sydney last Thursday and allowed dozens of people infected with COVID-19 to disembark.
Group members in two settled class actions against clothing retailer Surfstitch have been told the settlement amount available to them has plummeted amid a “very difficult retail environment”.
The judge overseeing the trial in a trade secrets case brought by Australian auto electronics developer Directed Electronics OE against its rivals is considering how the cross-examination of witnesses will proceed given current restrictions imposed on gatherings due to the coronavirus, including in the event of a possible lockdown.
As states across Australia shut down non-essential services and close borders in the battle to control the spread of the coronavirus, companies are turning to their lawyers for guidance on everything from contracts to disclosure obligations, staff reductions to workplace health and safety issues. Lawyerly talked to practitioners to find out what was on the minds of their corporate clients.
A judge has signed off on a $42.5 million settlement of a class action against Cash Converters, brought on behalf of consumers that look out personal loans, in a move that will see the plaintiffs firm behind the case pocket $12.4 million.
Measures to relax insolvency and bankruptcy laws to stem a possible wave of COVID-19 company collapses will not achieve their goal — and if Australia enters a European-style lockdown it won’t be a wave of insolvencies, it will be a tsunami, Lawyerly has been told.
HWL Ebsworth is keeping its offices open and requiring lawyers and staff to work at their desks despite updated government health advice, a decision that exposes the law firm to potential liability for workplace health and safety breaches, an employment expert says.
A fight to lead a class action against Monsanto over its allegedly cancer-causing weedkiller Roundup is on foot, with a third class action soon to be filed against the chemical giant.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will continue its enforcement activities amid the spread of the coronavirus but will prioritise cracking down on behaviour that threatens “immediate consumer harm”.
Companies under financial strain from measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus will get a reprieve from insolvency and bankruptcy laws as the Federal Government looks to stem a possible tide of company collapses.