Judges

Australian drug company Homart Pharmaceuticals has lost an appeal of a ruling that found the packaging of its bio-placenta skin care oil was intentionally and deceptively similar to a rival’s get-up, in breach of the consumer law.

The judge overseeing the lawsuit between Kraft and Bega over peanut butter trade dress rights has denied a request by non-party Mondelez to implement a restrictive regime to protect its trade secrets in certain transaction documents it has produced in the case.

The law firm leading a consumer class action against Ford wants a court order barring the car giant from communicating with the class about their individual claims and wants to know which, if any, group members it's already spoken to.

The judge overseeing seven class actions against S&P Global Ratings over toxic financial products has appointed a barrister to advise him on whether to approve a confidential global settlement, which would give funder Litigation Capital Partners about half the payout.

The lead applicant in a resolved class action against Bank of Queensland has argued law firm Quinn Emanuel and litigation funder Vannin Capital should have their costs slashed by millions of dollars, saying their fees left little of the settlement for group members.

Toll Transport has lost a bid to dismiss a second proceeding brought against it by a freight handler who last year won the right to convert from a casual to a full-time position in a precedent setting ruling.

The trial in ASIC's complex share market manipulation action against Whitebox Trading began Monday, with an opening submission by the corporate regulator that at times had even the presiding judge scratching his head.

A judge has found 7-Eleven is free to make confidential settlement offers to individual members in two class actions brought by franchisees, shooting down a bid by the applicants' lawyers to get the court involved in the convenience store giant's communications with class members.

The maker of V Energy drinks has lost a fight to trademark the shade of green used on its cans and labels, with a judge agreeing with rival Coca-Cola that the colour was descriptive, not distinctive.

Toy giant Mattel is fighting back against claims that its Mecard toys violate Canadian toy company Spin Master's patent for a toy transformation mechanism, claiming transformable toys are nothing new and that Spin Masters' patent is invalid.