The consumer watchdog has sought more than $1.5 million in penalties against debt collector ACM Group after the company was found liable for harassing vulnerable customers, but a judge on Tuesday questioned whether the fine, which could leave the company insolvent, was too punitive.
The court will issue a judgment Wednesday in one of two closely watched cases awaiting judgment that may move the dial on the patentability of computer software.
Google and Facebook should be regulated given the potential they have to wield their monopoly powers in ways that would harm consumers, the ACCC said in its highly anticipated preliminary report into the digital platforms.
The corporate cop’s case against Westpac over allegedly irresponsible lending practices will go to trial after the Federal Court rejected the bank’s $35 million settlement.
A shareholder class action led by Bannister Law against sandalwood oil producer Quintis will be absorbed by rival law firm Gadens in a consolidation agreement that ends a battle over the competing cases.
The NSW Government is mulling cross-claims against construction firms ALTRAC and Acciona in a class action alleging the government failed to minimise disruptions from the Sydney light rail project.
And then there were four. Plaintiffs law firm Slater & Gordon wants to consolidate its AMP shareholder class action with Maurice Blackburn’s case and hand over the reins to its rival, a deal signed the day the Full Federal Court affirmed the power of judges to shut down competing class actions.
Australian law firm profits jumped 8.2 per cent in the past financial year amid heightened demand for legal services, according to a recent report, which predicts a battle for top talent is afoot.
Quinn Emanuel has hit global insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson with a class action for allegedly charging local councils in NSW hundreds of millions of dollars in excessive premiums over the past nine years, and the firm says there may be more lawsuits on the horizon.
The showdown between five law firms vying to lead a class action over the AMP fees for no service scandal kicked off in the NSW Supreme Court Thursday with counsel for one case saying the contest, although costly and consuming, would ultimately be a win for all class action participants.