ASIC has brought court action against Westpac for allegedly dropping the ball on financial hardship claims by customers, some of whom had property seized or declared bankruptcy while waiting for a response from the Big Four bank.
Westpac has settled its claims against the father of Forum Finance director Vince Tesoriero, who along with fellow director Bill Papas is accused of perpetrating a $400 million fraud against the bank to fund their lavish lifestyles.
A $47 million settlement in a class action against ANZ — one of three settlements in a series of class actions against the big banks over ‘junk’ consumer credit insurance — was fair and reasonable, a judge has said.
A judge overseeing a superannuation class action against two Westpac units that settled for $30 million has flagged the possibility of appointing a contradictor to examine the litigation funder’s claimed cut of the settlement, which includes a deduction of over $1 million to cover the costs of after-the-event insurance.
Westpac, Macquarie and ANZ are seeking class closure orders ahead of mediation in three class actions over flexible commissions schemes, telling a court hearing they will be “completely at sea” without a better idea of the class size.
SMBC has been cleared to add more claims to its $34 million suit against Humm Group after the fintech’s subsidiary allegedly misled the Japanese bank about worthless receivables under contracts said to be forged by a Forum Group entity.
A judge overseeing a superannuation class action against two Westpac units that settled for $30 million has expressed concerns about the ATO’s potential involvement in distributing settlement funds, saying the department was unlikely to efficiently reunite group members with their money.
Westpac has hit back at a bid by ASIC to add an allegation to the regulator’s insider trading case that hinges on the bank providing financial services when it traded on the morning of a $16 billion deal to privatise electricity provider Ausgrid.
A law firm has won its second bid for a group costs order in three class actions against banks over flexible commission schemes after a judge in 2021 rejected what was then the first-ever application for a contingency fee.
Maurice Blackburn has had a second crack at a group costs order in three class actions against banks over alleged flexible commission schemes after a judge in 2021 rejected what was then the first-ever application for a contingency fee.