Competing class actions, which a judge recently called a “plague” on the courts, are driving a rise in class actions, with new representative proceedings brought this year set to outpace last year’s filings, according to a report by law firm Allens.
Ben Roberts-Smith has argued a judge should recuse himself from deciding if the Office of the Special Investigator can access his defamation court file, arguing the public might think he was biased and wanted to “further” his findings that the former SAS corporal committed war crimes. In a case management hearing on Monday, Arthur Moses…
The Commissioner of Taxation has appealed a judgment that found reinsurer Hannover life should be allowed tax credits for GST paid on a share of its overheads, including rent and power.
A judge has ruled that HWL Ebsworth’s negligent advice over property in Paramatta’s ‘Auto Alley’ cost a client $2 million, rejecting the firm’s plea of contributory negligence against the owner.
The ACCC has rejected ANZ’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Queensland-based Suncorp, setting up a likely challenge before the Australian Competition Tribunal.
A judge asked to approve a $50 million settlement in a consumer credit insurance class action against the Commonwealth Bank has questioned a $2.5 million deduction for professional services firm Deloitte.
A judge overseeing a class action against Suncorp subsidiary AAI has questioned whether the “uncertain” plan B of a law firm seeking a 25 per cent group costs order was artificially uncertain to increase the relative appeal of its contingency fee bid.
A funder has won its bid for indemnity costs following a $2 million settlement offer, despite the offer being a ‘tactical’ move for costs protection in its successful $14.8 million claim against a Sydney property developer.
Shine Lawyers has lost its bid to recover $32 million in interest on a loan it took out to run two pelvic mesh class actions against Johnson & Johnson, with a judge finding it would make a “marginal settlement less than reasonable”.
A Coalition MP has urged the government to take action on the regulation of artificial intelligence, flagging “very significant” issues in the intellectual property sphere.