A judge overseeing a class action by family members and deceased estates of the Northern Territory Stolen Generations, which settled for $50.45 million, has said the case was a “positive example” of representative actions.
Maurice Blackburn has defeated a former client’s bid for summary judgment in an “unusual case” alleging the firm gave him bad advice concerning a personal injury claim against the state of Western Australia over assaults suffered in prison.
The last remaining class action against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at a military base in Jervis Bay has settled for $22 million, from which $5 million will be deducted for legal costs.
Online trading company CMC Markets has succeeded in accessing advice given to class action members who are seeking to recover 10 years’ worth of “significant” losses incurred while trading risky financial products on its mobile and web-based platforms.
Mining engineering company Destec has won its bid to use evidence produced in a dispute with Mineral Resources in considering whether to bring a new case against its former director over a lucrative transportation system.
Appeals and cross-appeals are flying over a judge’s finding that engineering services firm CIMIC Group can pursue insurance claims for costs arising from allegations it engaged in corrupt practices, including a $32 million class action settlement.
A former director of defunct mining and exploration company Continental Coal has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for failing to act in good faith in performing his directors’ duties in relation to $1 million in bridging finance.
CSIRO has won its bid to access samples of a wheat grain product with increased fibre, as it contemplates a possible patent infringement lawsuit against a South Australian food company.
The founders of farming charity Aussie Helpers have won a defamation case against a Victorian woman who made allegedly defamatory comments on Facebook that claimed they committed criminal fraud by using donations for personal purchases.
A judge has declined Expert Group’s bid to bring court proceedings about the amount of an earn-out owed under its agreement to sell cloud services provider Experteq IT Services, finding the firm had agreed to resolve the matter by expert determination.