The settlement of the Discovery Metals investor class action against KPMG has experienced another setback, after scheme administrator Grant Thornton flagged a potential conflict of interest in acting as a costs contradictor over Piper Alderman’s controversial $3.5 million legal bill.
Merck Sharp & Dohme has claimed ownership of a Pfizer patent related to the blockbuster Prevnar 13 vaccine, after a doctor who moved between the pharmaceutical companies and is listed as an author on the patent allegedly accessed confidential Merck documents before jumping ship to Pfizer.
A court has barred US drug company Merck Sharp & Dohme from denying that an agreement made with German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA was governed by German law, settling a key question before a trade mark case between the two drug giants goes to trial.
Two former executives of Dick Smith may seek to vacate an upcoming trial date for two class actions against the failed retailer, after recently being hit with cross claims by the company’s former auditor, Deloitte.
A judge has refused to approve Piper Alderman’s $3.5 million in legal fees charged for running a class action against KPMG, appointing Grant Thornton as contradictor and giving the auditor the ability to seek assistance from the court for any future disputes about the controversial bill.
The Federal Court has granted auto giant Ford’s request for the costs of an anti-suit injunction it sought in the PowerShift transmission class action that was ultimately unnecessary after the class was denied its bid to access discovery from similar proceedings in the United States.
Allianz and a number of other insurers of Dick Smith are now facing a class action over the extent of coverage under an insurance policy for the collapsed electronics retailer’s initial public offering.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has commenced legal action against Samsung Electronics for allegedly making false, misleading and deceptive representations when marketing the water resistant capabilities of its Galaxy smartphones.
Poppy processor Palla Pharma has agreed to pay $1.125 million to rival Tasmanian Alkaloids t0 settle a lawsuit alleging infringement of two innovation patents for high codeine-concentrated poppy.
Mortgage provider and Brisbane Broncos sponsor Firstmac has hit fintech giant Zip Co with a lawsuit for allegedly infringing its “Zip” trade mark.