Crown Resorts has reached agreement with AUSTRAC to pay a $450 million penalty for the casino operator’s serious breaches of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
As the spotlight on class action costs grows, litigation funders can expect increased judicial scrutiny of their attempts to pass on the cost of after-the-event insurance premiums to class action members.
A contradictor in two pelvic mesh class actions against Johnson & Johnson and unit Ethicon has told the court of the “extraordinary amount of group member unhappiness” following approval of a $300 million settlement – the largest in the history of Australian product liability group proceedings.
Former Army major Heston Russell has panned the ABC’s argument that it is not liable to pay damages in his defamation case because he identified himself and was given an opportunity to respond to stories that suggested he was involved in murdering an Afghan prisoner.
One of the two remaining class actions against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at military bases across the country has settled for $132.7 million on the eve of trial, with the final case going back to mediation.
A judge overseeing an investor class action over the collapse of advisory firm Linchpin Capital has questioned whether he has to “effectively second guess” a law firm’s advice given to group members about a partial settlement.
Crown Resorts has reached agreement on a proposed penalty in AUSTRAC’s case alleging “widespread and serious non-compliance” with anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing laws, but the presiding judge says more information is needed for the court to fix a fine.
Unless the parties can reach a last minute settlement over the weekend, trial in a class action against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at military bases across the country will begin Monday.
Accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann has won his bid to bring defamation cases against News Corp and Network Ten despite the expiry of a 12-month limitation period.
Allianz has flagged it will appeal a ruling that found it must indemnify the Uniting Church for historic claims of sexual abuse that allegedly occurred up to four decades ago at the exclusive Sydney boys’ private school Knox Grammar.