A Federal Court judge has slapped Volkswagen with a record $125 million penalty over its emissions cheating scandal after expressing outrage at a “manifestly inadequate” $75 million settlement agreement reached with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The applicants in a group of class actions over defective Takata airbags are pushing ahead with a challenge to the power of the NSW Supreme Court to issue class closure orders in the aftermath of a High Court decision shooting down common fund orders, a fight that could send the cases back to the High Court.
The judge overseeing the settlement approval process in multiple class actions against Volkswagen over the diesel emissions scandal has criticised an application for a common fund order by the funder backing two Bannister Law-led lawsuits.
The ACCC has taken its long-running battle over access fees at the Port of Newcastle to the Federal Court, challenging a re-arbitration decision that overturned its finding that the fees should be cut by 20 per cent.
Qube has filed a misuse of market power case against the operator of the Port of Newcastle for allegedly forcing the logistics giant to pay for equipment it needs to provide dry bulk unloading services at the port.
The litigation funder that backed a now dismissed class action against aviation service provider Airservices has argued funders should not face costs orders in Fair Work class actions, with a judge saying the debate raised “a point of high principle”.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is seeking a stay of an appeal by PT Garuda Indonesia while the airline’s $19 million fine May for engaging in cartel conduct remains unpaid.
Responding to a class action on behalf of over 250,000 car owners, auto giant Toyota has admitted issues with filters in three of its diesel vehicle models but says drivers who failed to respond to warning lights in their cars could not clam damages for any breaches of quality guarantees.
Law firm Bannister Law is probing a possible class action against Mazda after the automotive giant recalled tens of thousands of diesel vehicle models due to engine safety defects.
Car rental company Australian 4WD Hire will need to take steps to recover deleted, allegedly threatening emails after a court found it had not complied with its discovery obligations in an unconscionable conduct case brought by the consumer regulator.