A judge has expressed skepticism of Bannister Law’s plan to hire powerhouse US lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, who oversaw the September 11th victims compensation and BP oil spill funds, to mediate class actions against Volkwagen over its emissions cheating scandal, saying the car maker had shown no interest in settling despite the risk of “horrendous” penalties.
A judge has signed off on a $6.7 million settlement in a shareholder class action against mining firm MacMahon Holdings that will see group members get $2.4 million, or 35 per cent, of the total sum.
Rokt has won its bid to patent a digital advertising system, the first major court victory in one of three challenges to IP Australia’s stance on the patentability of computer software.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has lost a bid to have the Federal Court decide a threshold legal question in its dodgy home loan case against Westpac, which is going to trial after a $35 million settlement got the thumbs down.
The consumer watchdog has sought more than $1.5 million in penalties against debt collector ACM Group after the company was found liable for harassing vulnerable customers, but a judge on Tuesday questioned whether the fine, which could leave the company insolvent, was too punitive.
The Commissioner of Patents will seek to toss a case simultaneously challenging its decisions to accept, grant and certify an innovation patent owned by one of Australia’s biggest building product firms.
The Commonwealth has urged the court to strike out the “inconsistent” pleadings of pharmaceutical firms Otsuka and Bristol-Myers Squibb in a patent case over the antipsychotic drug Abilify, calling them a “scandal” which could bring disrepute to the administration of justice.
Defending against a fourth trade mark infringement lawsuit by the UK’s Scotch Whisky Association, Australian liquor retailer D’Aquino Bros has told a court all of its Scotch Whisky was distilled in Scotland, and it has the paperwork to prove it.
The corporate cop’s case against Westpac over allegedly irresponsible lending practices will go to trial after the Federal Court rejected the bank’s $35 million settlement.
A shareholder class action led by Bannister Law against sandalwood oil producer Quintis will be absorbed by rival law firm Gadens in a consolidation agreement that ends a battle over the competing cases.