Contracts

Property developer Grocon has "reluctantly" put its construction business into administration, blaming the NSW government's handling of the Central Barangaroo development project which has sparked a $270 million lawsuit in the NSW Supreme Court.

An appeals court has shot down oil and gas giant Santos' bid for expanded discovery against engineering company Fluor, finding that the application was "akin to a fishing expedition" that was based on "a shaky assumption" by lawyers from Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

A contractual dispute between a litigation funder and the lead applicant in a class action against S&P will not prevent the class action from progressing, with both parties giving undertakings to preserve the status quo while the feud remains on foot.

Businesses will face fines for imposing unfair contract terms on consumers and small businesses under expected changes to Australian Consumer Law announced Tuesday.

Accounting firm Findex has lost an appeal of a court's judgment tossing its case against a former financial advisor, despite the court finding he had poached the company's clients and caused $742,000 in losses.

A judge has criticised a law firm that is suing its former client, Melbourne cafe Barfly's, for $745,000 in legal fees after the firm sought to join the brother-in-law of Barfly's owner Tony Hachem to the case.

The consumer watchdog has filed court proceedings against Fuji Xerox alleging the Japanese print giant's standard form contracts with small businesses contain a bevvy of unfair contract terms that could cause them harm.

Construction firm Icon Co has won a coverage dispute with its insurers over $31 million in losses stemming from Sydney's ill-fated Opal Tower, whose residents were evacuated after cracks appeared in the tower's walls on Christmas Eve in 2018.

A contradictor appointed in two class actions against 7-Eleven will argue before the Full Federal Court that the court has power both in equity and under the Federal Court of Australia Act to make common fund orders in class actions on settlement or judgment.