Litigation funder Augusta Ventures has had its appeal of a groundbreaking ruling that put it on the hook for security for costs in a Fair Work class action pushed back by three months after a delayed case management hearing, with a Federal Court judge telling the parties they were to blame.
As Victoria looks set to pass legislation allowing law firms to cut litigation funders out of class action work, and the High Court increases the risks of financing group proceedings, funders operating in Australia have been forced to think on their feet to adapt to the ever-changing regime. Australia’s largest litigation funder IMF Bentham is no exception, CEO Andrew Saker told Lawyerly.
A judge has signed off on a $2 million payout for Maddens Lawyers in a class action against electricity provider Powercor over a 2018 St Patrick’s Day bushfire in Victoria that settled last year for $17.5 million, despite finding that the law firm’s cost agreement with group members was void.
A judge has directed solicitors for deceased lawyer and funder Mark Elliott to search for his missing mobile phone, which is wanted for potential evidence by a court-appointed contradictor investigating alleged professional misconduct on the part of the legal team behind a settled class action against failed Banksia Securities.
A Federal Court judge has awarded combined damages of $2.6 million to the lead applicants in the Johnson & Johnson pelvic mesh class action, following a landmark ruling in November which found that the pharmaceutical giant did not adequately warn of the risks of the implants.
A company owned by Clive Palmer is appealing a ruling that denied its bid to temporarily block funding for a class action over the troubled Coolum Palmer Resort.
The Federal Court judge overseeing three class actions against the Commonwealth of Australia over allegedly toxic firefighting foam has questioned the terms of the in-principle settlement reached last week, including whether the settlement amount should remain confidential.
Farmers in a class action against Advanta Seeds over allegedly contaminated sorghum have defeated a bid by the company to hand over a list of all group members who have signed funding agreements to join the case.
Dam operator Sunwater will join an appeal of a victory in a class action filed on behalf of victims of the 2011 Queensland floods, despite pleas from the firm running the case and the State of Queensland that insurers for the dam operators let the ruling stand.
Slater and Gordon has expanded its Get Your Insurance Back campaign, launching class actions against ANZ and Westpac over allegedly worthless consumer credit insurance, just three months after it reached a $49.5 million settlement with NAB in a class action over similar insurance.