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Dymocks unit sued for ‘flagrant’ trade mark infringement by private equity fund
An educational service provider owned by national bookstore chain Dymocks has been sued for "flagrant" trade mark infringement by a tech-focused private equity fund.
ASIC secures disqualifications, fines against Vocation directors
Three former Vocation executives  -- including former federal Treasurer John Dawkins -- have been hit with disaqualification orders and fines totalling $125,000 after a court found they breached their directors' duties ahead of the collapse of the education provider.
ACCC wins record $26.5M penalty against Empower Institute
The ACCC has won a record $26.5 million penalty against defunct vocational trainer Empower Institute for "duping" disadvantaged customers into enrolling in courses they couldn't afford with the promise of free laptops and cash.
James Cook University appeals $1.2M judgment for sacking climate skeptic
James Cook University has followed through on its promise to appeal a $1.2 million judgment awarded against it for the unfair dismissal of physics professor and climate skeptic Peter Ridd.
ASIC ‘plucking numbers out of the air’ in penalty hearing for Vocation execs, court told
Lawyers for former Vocation CEO Mark Hutchinson say the corporate regulator is “plucking numbers out of the air” in its bid to secure disqualifications of up to eight years against the former executives who breached their directors’ duties in relation to the collapsed education provider.
Court approves $14.6M settlement in Ashley Services class action
The Federal Court has approved a $14.6 million class action settlement with private training company Ashley Services, auditors Deloitte and Grant Thornton, and Holmes Management Group, with IMF Bentham set to pocket around $4.8 million for funding the litigation.
ACCC to seek $4M in refunds for Jump! swim school franchisees
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will seek more than $4 million in refunds plus penalties when it takes the troubled operator of the Jump! Swim School franchise and its top executive to court for alleged violations of the Australian Consumer Law.
ASIC wins case against Vocation, former execs after 15-month wait for judgment
In a win for the corporate watchdog, a court has found collapsed education provider Vocation engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and breached its continuous disclosure obligations by failing to inform shareholders of problems with a large government contract.
La Trobe University drops disciplinary proceedings against law professor
La Trobe University has reached a settlement with the head of its law school, Dr Patrick Keyzer, to resolve legal action alleging it breached its workplace obligations when it suspended him over bullying complaints. The university dropped its disciplinary proceedings against Keyzer, with no adverse findings being made.
PWC claims privilege against self-incrimination in fight over Vocation audit files
Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers is resisting a notice to produce audit files in a consolidated shareholder class action over the collapse of education and training company Vocation, arguing its partners face a real risk of criminal and civil penalty proceedings and are entited to claim privilege against self-incrimination.