Gym chain Viva Leisure is reportedly facing a potential class action alleging the company has engaged in unconscionable conduct in its dealings with a group of franchisees.
A judge has shot down what he called a “risky” but novel proposal by 7-Eleven for a pre-trial ruling on sample objections to the relevance of evidence in two franchise class actions.
Restaurant chain Hog’s Breath Café is facing a class action for allegedly misappropriating franchisee funds meant for advertising, including by paying a director’s girlfriend as a “consultant”.
A judge has dismissed an application by Domino’s Pizza to strike out the pleadings in a class action accusing the pizza giant of making misleading and deceptive representations to franchisees which caused drivers to be underpaid.
Courts have power to order oral discovery of potential witnesses ahead of trial, according to the judge overseeing two 7-Eleven class actions by franchisees, but the cases against the convenience store giant were not the occasion to exercise the power, he said.
A McDonald’s franchisee accused of failing to give employees paid rest breaks has hit back at a lawsuit filed by the retail workers’ union, arguing its employees took their entitled breaks, but sometimes in a “non-continuous” manner.
The lead plaintiffs in two class actions against 7-Eleven have appealed a decision rejecting the very first Federal Court application for oral discovery, which would have seen four former employees bound by confidentiality agreements give evidence.
Pharmacy giant Priceline is the target of an “imminent” class action, with a group of dissatisfied franchisees accusing the company of exercising an “overly prescriptive” level of control over its franchises and fettering profitability.
A Federal Court judge overseeing two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven has heard a landmark application for pre-trial oral discovery that could create another tool for lawyers to source evidence otherwise blocked by confidentiality agreements.
A class action by franchisees against mobile and internet retailer TeleChoice will return to the Victoria Supreme Court next week as group members seek commissions they allege have been withheld while the company battles separate litigation against Optus.