Judge won’t step down from Cash Converters class action settlement hearing
TOP STORY
Class Actions January 18, 2019 10:41 pm By Christine Caulfield

A judge has shot down a bid by Cash Converters to disqualify himself from hearing arguments for a $16.4 million class action settlement, saying his advice while still a barrister to the law firm running the proceedings did not give rise to apprehended bias.

Ultra Tune slapped with $2.6M fine for misleading franchisees, deceiving court
Competition & Consumer Protection January 18, 2019 4:25 pm By Miklos Bolza

National car repair franchise Ultra Tune has been ordered to pay a $2.6 million penalty, with a judge finding the firm had not only breached the Franchising Code and the Australian Consumer Law by misleading a prospective franchisee but also misled the court in its defence of the case brought by the consumer watchdog.

Law firm wants to shut down class action over excessive fees
Class Actions January 18, 2019 12:58 pm By Miklos Bolza

A Queensland law firm says litigation launched by a former client alleging she and other clients were charged excessive fees should not be run as a class action.

Other stories
Aged care royal commission warns providers against obstruction
Healthcare January 18, 2019 10:59 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Aged care service providers have been put on notice that they could face legal action for blocking whistleblowers from providing evidence to the aged care royal commission.

Landscaper suing super fund REST over climate change plan can’t cap adverse costs
Financial Services January 18, 2019 3:29 pm By Miklos Bolza

An ecological landscaper suing the Retail Employees Superannuation Trust fund for an undeveloped climate change policy has lost an application for a maximum costs order in the public-interest case.

IP Australia challenges landmark Rokt software patent ruling
Intellectual Property January 17, 2019 9:50 am By Cat Fredenburgh

IP Australia has brought a challenge to a landmark court victory for startup Rokt approving a computer software patent.

Judge was wrong to halt cross-examination in Octaviar class action, court hears
Class Actions January 17, 2019 9:00 pm By Miklos Bolza

A judge that dismissed an investor class action against the Public Trustee of Queensland over the failure of investment firm Octaviar Group improperly intervened in the cross-examination of one of the class’ witnesses, one of the judges that will hear an appeal of the dismissal was told.

Full Court puts injector pen patent appeal on fast track
Intellectual Property January 17, 2019 2:03 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

The Full Federal Court has expedited an appeal filed Christmas Eve by Sanofi-Aventis of a ruling that denied its bid to block Alphapharm from listing an insulin injector pen on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme.

Craig McLachlan wins stay of defamation case amid criminal charges
Defamation January 17, 2019 2:28 pm By Miklos Bolza

Actor Craig McLachlan has won a bid to stay his defamation case against actress Christie Whelan Browne, Fairfax Media and the ABC in light of recent indecent assault charges brought against him, with a judge finding the cases deal with identical subject matter.

Fair Work deputy president chided for anti-CFMMEU retweet, but cleared of apparent bias
Employment January 17, 2019 9:39 pm By Christine Caulfield

A senior member of the Fair Work Commission acted inappropriately when he shared a Twitter post critical of Labor leader Bill Shorten and the CFMMEU, but it did not mean he could be viewed as biased against the union, a full bench of the workplace tribunal has found.

DLA Piper sued by QC, junior barrister over $370,000 in unpaid fees
Business of Law January 16, 2019 10:13 pm By Christine Caulfield

A Queens Counsel and a junior barrister at the Victorian Bar are taking DLA Piper to court, accusing the law firm of failing to pay […]

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NAB says customers could decide if credit card insurance was ‘worthless’
Financial Services January 16, 2019 12:01 pm By Miklos Bolza

National Australia Bank has rejected a class action’s claims that it pushed worthless credit card insurance onto its customers, saying it was up to the […]

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Spotless judgment clarifies redundancy payment exception
Employment January 16, 2019 5:14 pm By Miklos Bolza

Spotless Services violated the Fair Work Act by failing to pay redundancy for workers employed at Perth International Airport, a court has found, in a ruling […]

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