Judges

Two far-reaching appeals challenging the court's power to order all members of an open class action to pay a litigation funder will be heard together, and soon, the Federal Court's top judge said Thursday.

Fintech company Encompass has asked the Full Federal Court to take a more "nuanced" approach to software patentability than the one currently held by IP Australia, on the first day of a high-stakes appeal over the patentability of computer-related inventions.

Lawyers leading a class action against Quintis want the failed sandalwood oil producer to hand over evidence of any insurance policy that could cover the company and its founder for damages sought in the case.

Medical device maker AMS has told the Federal Court that claims in a class action against it over allegedly defective pelvic mesh implants did not meet the standard for a representative proceeding.

A barrister for the ABC and Fairfax has told the Federal Court that an appeal against the dismissal of their truth defence in the Chau Chak Wing defamation case will have "massive ramifications for mass media".

Bank of Queensland has lost a dispute with two insurers over coverage for a $6 million settlement of a class action brought by investors in a Ponzi scheme by jailed scammer Bradley Sherwin, with a judge shooting down the bank's argument that the class action should only be considered one claim under the policy.

The judge overseeing Geoffrey Rush's defamation trial interjected in Nationwide News' closing submissions on Wednesday, expressing doubt about the publisher's interpretation of evidence -- including a text message with a tongue emoji Rush sent to his accuser -- said to back its defence in the case.

A defamation case brought by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young against fellow senator David Leyonhjelm will go ahead after Leyonhjelm lost a bid to shut the suit down on the grounds of parliamentary privilege.

Hair loss treatment company Advangen International has been ordered to fork over $940,000 to advertising agency Ikon Communications after refusing to pay for an ad campaign it claimed was a flop.

The former chief executive officer of Sydney's Parramatta Council is suing Fairfax Media, saying three articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald accusing him of lying on his resume were defamatory.