Boutique class action firm Bannister Law has been told “not to make too much noise” from its spot at “the back of the bus” in the VW dieselgate class actions, after its legal team flagged its intention to try and expedite the $127.1 million settlement approval process.
Thorn Group is seeking to raise $38.7 million to cover its share of a $29 million settlement in a consumer class action alleging its Radio Rentals unit pushed misleading ‘Rent, Try, $1 Buy’ leases onto vulnerable customers.
Facebook has come out against some of the competition watchdog’s recommendations in its final digital inquiry report and warned against the risk of pandering to powerful Australian media companies with regulation aimed at reining in rivals.
After four years of litigation, the Volkswagen diesel emissions class actions have reached an in-principle settlement of up to $127.1 million, with affected consumers expected to receive $1,400 per vehicle on average if 100 per cent participation is achieved.
The lead applicant in a class action by passengers of Scenic Tours luxury European river cruises who were forced to take the bus has partially won a bid for the High Court to hear an appeal of a mixed ruling on liability in the case.
A judge has approved a common fund application in a class action against two IAG entities over add-on insurance said to be worth up to $1 billion, saying it was only fair to make all group members pay to fund the litigation.
The judge overseeing Vodafone’s court battle with the competition regulator over a proposed merger with TPG questioned TPG founder David Teoh when the billionaire boss told a courtroom Thursday mobile technology was rapidly evolving, a remark seemingly at odds with the teleco’s claim that it had no viable option in the next five years for resuming a stalled network rollout.
A judge has thrown out the NRMA’s consumer case against the maritime union over its Sydney fast ferry campaign, ruling that a verdict in favour of the motoring body would have brought the “the entire field of industrial relations within the operation of consumer legislation”.
The competition regulator has given rural retailer company Elders the greenlight to proceed with its proposed $187 million acquisition of wholesale group Australian Independent Rural Retailers, but has warned it will be paying close attention to any future consolidation in the rural sector.
A group representing Google, Facebook and Twitter has cautioned the government against adopting the ACCC’s recommendations in its final digital platforms report, saying many of the regulator’s proposals were “arguably premature”, lacking in evidence and could stymie innovation.