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Waived on through: Federal Court highlights the fine distinctions that govern waiver of privilege
A recent decision in ASIC's case against ANZ has highlighted the potential risks of waiver of client legal privilege, with the Federal Court observing that the distinctions can be "fine". While ANZ avoided having to disclose its legal advice to the regulator, the decision is a reminder of the potential pitfalls of referring to legal advice in correspondence, and that pleading a state of mind in litigation carries risks from a privilege perspective, says Hall & Wilcox partner Jacob Uljans.
Maurice Blackburn escapes discrimination case by former client
A judge has shut down a former Qantas customer service manager's bid to pursue a disability discrimination case against Maurice Blackburn alleging the law firm put pressure on her to settle her workers compensation case against the airline.
Commonwealth Bank, Westpac’s BT face potential class actions over insurance ‘rort’
Shine Lawyers is investigating two new class actions against Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac's BT Funds Management over allegedly excessive insurance premiums, a week after filing a similar case against AMP's life insurance arm.
Google, Facebook face fines of at least $10M for breaches of ACCC media bargaining code
Google and Facebook will face penalties of at least $10 million for breaches of a media bargaining code drafted by the ACCC that aims to create a "level playing field" between Australian media companies and the tech giants.
ASIC scores ‘narrow’ win in case against ex-Tennis Australia director
A judge has handed ASIC a "narrow" win in its action against former Tennis Australia director Harold Mitchell, tossing most of the regulator's case and accusing it of "confirmatory bias".
Arrium liquidators win fight over examination of director for potential class action
Liquidators for collapsed steel and mining giant Arrium have successfully appealed a court ruling permitting the examination of a former director for a possible shareholder class action, with the Court of Appeal for the NSW Supreme Court finding the "private nature" of the claims was an abuse of process.
ACCC loses appeal in TPG ‘prepayment’ case
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has come up short in its challenge to a ruling that dismissed its case against TPG over contract terms that allowed the internet provider to keep customers' unused prepaid funds on phone or internet plans.
Law firm to drop class action against Pitcher Partners over Slater and Gordon audits
The law firm behind a long-running class action against Pitcher Partners over its auditing of Slater and Gordon is seeking court approval to drop the case, leaving the funder that bankrolled the proceeding to defend an application for indemnity costs.
Dreamworld operator Ardent Leisure pleads guilty over ride deaths
The operator of Dreamworld in Queensland has pleaded guilty to three charges over the 2016 deaths of four people on the theme park's now demolished Thunder River Rapids ride.