Retail

Supermarket chain Romeo's has been hit with a second class action for allegedly underpaying managers across several stores in NSW.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is seeking $2 million in penalties against Kogan, after a judge found statements the online retailer made during a 2018 promotion were misleading and drew consumers into the company's "marketing web".

The Australian arm of multinational cosmetics company Lush has back-paid over 3,000 employees more than $4 million and entered into a "stringent" enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The Australian maker of a trendy neoprene handbag sold at high-end retailers has lost a copyright lawsuit over alleged knockoffs, with a judge finding the tote was at most an "evolution in styling" and not a work of artistic craftsmanship with copyright protection.

Luxury shoe designer Manolo Blahnik has won a preliminary discovery application seeking information from Sydney designer outlet, Estro, for a possible lawsuit over the “extremely concerning” sale of alleged knock-off shoes.

Drakes Supermarkets is facing a class action alleging it failed to pay staff at its Foodland and Drakes stores for time worked in excess of rostered hours, the latest on a growing list of supermarket chains to be stung by an underpayments class action.

The lawyers behind two class actions against clothing retailer Surfstitch breached their duties to act in the best interests of shareholders, and their conduct should bar them from pocketing more than $6 million claimed in costs and commission in the protracted litigation, a court has heard.

The ACCC has taken a major wholesale supplier of sporting goods to court for allegedly setting minimum prices for cycling and sporting goods in its agreements with retailers.

Mosaic Brands has taken the Australian Communications and Media Authority to court, alleging a request for documents based on suspected Spam Act violations is invalid.

A union representing retail employees has taken discount supermarket chain Aldi to court for allegedly refusing to pay employees at one of its distribution centres for pre-shift work, saying Aldi had gone "from bad to worse" after also denying workers a pay rise.