A judge has expressed doubts that every group member in the Robodebt class action is vulnerable, as the parties gear up for two-week trial in the high-profile case over the unlawful debt recovery method that begins Monday.
Will we see an increase in class actions and funded litigation following the COVID-19 financial crisis similar to that following the global financial crisis? If there is an onslaught of corporate failures, including failed managed investment schemes, then such litigation seems likely to ensue. However, in the last year, Parliament and the courts have taken steps which might slow such litigious activity, says Susan Goodman of Holding Redlich.
The funder that backed a class action against McMillan Shakespeare over ‘illusory’ car warranties, which settled for less than 20 per cent of the $47.6 million claim value, will seek court approval for a 30 per cent cut of the $9.5 million settlement.
The Federal Government has critised as “hopelessly defective” a lawsuit alleging it failed to disclose the impacts of climate change to investors in sovereign bonds, and the judge overseeing the matter has also raised concerns about the case.
The eyes of class action lawyers will be on the High Court Tuesday as it hears arguments over a judge’s power to choose a single class action among competing proceedings and what, if anything, should be made of a case’s funding structure and likely returns to group members when picking a winner.
The lead applicant in a $47.6 million class action against McMillan Shakespeare over ‘illusory’ car warranties will seek court approval for a $9.5 million settlement, less than 20 per cent of the claim value.
A nursing home in Melbourne’s Western suburbs may be hit with a class action over a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility that resulted in the deaths of 11 residents.
Notice of the discontinuance of a class action on behalf of Slater & Gordon shareholders against Pitcher Partners need not be sent to all group members, a judge has ruled, acknowledging there would be “significant practical difficulties” with trying to reach everyone.
An amicus curiae will be appointed by the court to argue against a common fund order application by the funder backing a class action against two Insurance Australia Group subsidiaries, after the insurance giant agreed to a $138 million settlement last month.
American Medical Systems will hand over around 2.1 million documents produced in long-running US multidistrict litigation to Shine Lawyers in its class action against the Boston Scientific unit over its allegedly defective pelvic mesh products.