A lawyer behind a settled class action against the previous government’s Robodebt disaster has called for the case to be reconvened in the wake of a report that blasted the “crude and cruel” scheme, as Government Service Minister Bill Shorten suggests victims could sue individual Coalition ministers.
A damning report by a royal commission into the former federal government’s Robodebt scheme has recommended several individuals be referred for civil action or criminal prosecution, finding it was “a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal”.
A judge overseeing a class action over the government’s total ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia has challenged the applicant’s bid to base group member damages on an increased number of cows that could have been exported, three years after the lead applicant won a $2.9 million judgment.
Toyota has denied allegations it fitted up to 500,000 diesel vehicles with engine devices designed to scam emissions tests, in a class action that could be “one of the biggest” in Australian history.
Beach Energy has struck back at a shareholder class action over alleged misleading earnings projections for its oil and gas reserves in the Cooper Basin, saying it had reasonable grounds for its rosy predictions for production.
Korean car makers Hyundai and Kia have filed their defences in class actions over alleged engine defects, arguing owners cannot bring claims if their vehicles were repaired and that they are not responsible for any faults said to be caused by their manufacturing partner.
A judge has adjourned a trial in a case brought by junior doctors seeking to recoup alleged unpaid overtime, despite noting his annoyance over the applicants’ “180 degree turn” on the question of whether the hearing should await delivery of judgment in a related case.
A class action over pelvic mesh products supplied by device makers Covidien and TFS has reached a global resolution with the manufacturers and their insurers which brings the recovery total in settled mesh class action close to $450 million.
The lead applicant in a class action against AMP Financial Planning on behalf of 542 advisers has won $813,000 in damages after a judge found it could not retreat from a promise to buy back adviser businesses at four times their revenue.
Optus has denied class action claims that customers suffered loss and damages for its alleged negligence in relation to last year’s massive data breach and argues they are not entitled to compensation for distress, frustration or disappointment that does not amount to a recognised psychiatric illness.