Judges

A Federal Court judge on Friday reluctantly approved a $12 million settlement in the long-running class action against Bank of Queensland, saying it left almost nothing for those affected by the notorious Sherwin Ponzi scheme.

Westpac Banking Corp. engaged in unconscionable conduct when it traded in bank bills in an attempt to influence the benchmark Bank Bill Swap Rate on four occasions, a Federal Court judge ruled Thursday.

Class actions brought by victims of the failed Willmott Forests managed investment scheme have come to a close, two years after a judge issued a stunning ruling rejecting an initial settlement as favoring clients of M&K Lawyers over other investors, and including payment of a hefty legal bill.

The judge overseeing a case brought by Meat & Livestock Australia over a bovine gene patent has given parties until July 5 to oppose changes to the patent, held by Cargill and Branhaven, after an earlier ruling invalidated the patent. 

A decision on the fate of three class actions against logistics software company GetSwift is set for Wednesday, and counsel behind the competing cases aren't the only lawyers waiting with baited breath.

Blockbuster has struck out in its challenge to a ruling that it could not recover a cent from a husband and wife franchisee after the pair sold the store's assets without consent and admitted to breaching the franchise agreement.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has won leave to appeal to the High Court a ruling that threw out its case against former directors of collapsed retirement village owner Prime Trust. 

7-Eleven has lost its bid to use a confidential bulletin sent to class members via WhatsApp as defence evidence in an ongoing franchisee class action, with a judge rejecting the company's claims the document was no longer shielded by legal professional privilege.

A full bench of the Federal Court has dismissed an appeal by drug giant GlaxoSmithKline in a patent infringement case it brought over planned generic versions of its sustained-release Panadol.

A "secret" side agreement between the lead applicant in a shareholder class action and a litigation funder is at the centre of a dispute in the Federal Court that is delaying distribution of a $19 million settlement in the case.