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Barrister’s delay raises doubts about law firm’s fee agreement in Falls Festival class action
Class Actions 2020-09-04 3:32 pm By Miklos Bolza Sydney
An independent costs consultant has raised concerns about the legal costs sought by Maddens Lawyers from a $5.7 million settlement of the Falls Festival class action after the senior barrister leading the case delayed signing off on his rates with the law firm for a year.
New class action against S&P faces delay over investor feud with funder
Banton Group 2020-09-04 1:15 pm By Alison Eveleigh Sydney
A new class action against S&P Global is facing potential delays as the two lead applicants -- one embroiled in a battle over its funding agreement -- ready for a fight over when to serve the lawsuit on the global ratings agency.
CBA hit with class action over grandfathered commissions
AMP 2020-09-03 10:28 pm By Cat Fredenburgh Melbourne
A class action has been filed against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia over commissions grandfathered by the Future of Financial Advice reforms.
Banksia judge appeared to take ‘very dim view’ of lawyer Alex Elliott, court told
Angel Aleksov 2020-09-02 9:42 pm By Alison Eveleigh Sydney
The judge overseeing professional misconduct claims against lawyers in the Banksia class action appeared to express “a very dim view” of Alex Elliott, the son of class action lawyer Mark Elliott, and should not hear the case against him, a court has heard.
Law firm says Treasury Wine can’t appeal class action ruling without court OK
Cameron Moore 2020-09-02 5:37 pm By Christine Caulfield Melbourne
Maurice Blackburn is pushing back against an appeal by Treasury Wine Estates, which accuses the law firm and a barrister of breaching their obligations by using evidence discovered in a settled class action to launch a second case against the wine maker.
Spotless class action settlement approved after funders drop $1.5M battle for extra costs
Class Actions 2020-09-02 3:48 pm By Miklos Bolza Sydney
A judge has signed off on a $95 million settlement in a shareholder class action against Spotless after a heated exchange saw the funders backing the lawsuit drop their bid for $1.5 million in costs above their commission.
Class actions and litigation funding reform: Proceedings before the Joint Committee
Class Actions 2020-09-01 10:35 pm By Dr Peter Cashman and Amelia Simpson of the University of New South Wales
The public hearings before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services as part of an inquiry into litigation funding and regulation of the class action industry proved to be polarised and, at times, hostile and adversarial in tone. But the inquiry has proven to be a useful and insightful process and questioning by the Committee served to unearth not only relevant factual information and important empirical data but also touched on the commercial and financial interests of those on both sides of the debate. 
$1.4B MLC acquisition puts IOOF on the hook for class actions, ASIC case
ASIC 2020-08-31 9:59 pm By Miklos Bolza Sydney
Financial services giant IOOF Holdings will be on the hook for any judgments or settlements reached in two class actions and an ASIC lawsuit as part of its $1.4 billion acquisition of NAB wealth management unit MLC.
‘A dog’s breakfast’: Judge pans claims in class action that Robodebt was self-evidently unlawful
Australian Government Solicitor 2020-08-31 3:33 pm By Miklos Bolza Sydney
A judge has stopped short of rejecting new claims in the Robodebt class action despite "obvious errors" in the allegations, but has sent the applicants back to the drawing board and warned them the matter would not proceed as a "dog's breakfast".
Law firm drops responsible lending class action against Westpac after ASIC calls it a day
Breaking News 2020-08-31 1:48 pm By Christine Caulfield Melbourne
Maurice Blackburn is abandoning its class action against Westpac over the bank's alleged responsible lending law breaches, weeks after ASIC lost its appeal in the so-called wagyu and shiraz case and conceded defeat.