In an important ruling that confines the scope of “industrial activity” under the Fair Work Act, the Full Federal Court has overturned a $50,000 fine against the CFMEU and two officials for organising a work stoppage at a Brighton construction site that the union said needed a female toilet.
CFMEU official Michael O’Connor has successfully appealed a ruling that threw out his lawsuit seeking to restrain union heavyweight John Setka from poaching members from the union’s manufacturing division.
A barrister for billionaire Clive Palmer has expressed doubt that the mining magnate’s defamation case against Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan can be resolved in mediation.
Litigation funder Augusta Ventures has won its challenge to a landmark ruling that it pay $3.1 million in security for the costs of two Fair Work class actions it is financing on behalf of casual mine workers.
A history of serial offending by the CFMEU could be factored into a court’s finding on the gravity of later breaches of the Fair Work Act, but not to the extent that the union pays a disproportionate penalty, the Full Federal Court has found in a significant ruling that settles conflicting case law.
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has struck back at a defamation lawsuit by Clive Palmer, filing a counterclaim accusing the mining magnate of making a number of defamatory statements, including that he was a “liar” involved in “covering up” illegal activity.
The law firm running an underpayments class action against petrol convenience store chain On The Run has been ordered to issue a notice correcting certain statements made on its website about the company and the class action, including that the claims in the case are worth up to $70 million.
Facing accusations of being a “litigation bounty hunter”, litigation funder Augusta Ventures has made its bid before the Full Federal Court to overturn a landmark ruling which put it on the hook for $3.1 million in security in two Fair Work class actions.
Daily Telegraph publisher Nationwide News has failed in its appeal of a judgment that found it defamed Geoffrey Rush in articles that accused the Oscar-winning actor of sexually inappropriate behaviour, with an appeals court describing the stories as a “sensationalised tabloid crusade”.
Labour hire company WorkPac has asked the High Court to weigh in on a decision that grants entitlements to casual workers with regular shifts, a ruling it says could have a “devastating impact” on companies if allowed to stand.