Class Actions
Origin class action ‘unviable’ if law firm stuck with 30% GCO, court told
The law firm running a class action against Origin Energy has argued the case is “financially unviable” if it is stuck with a 30 per cent contingency fee ordered by the court, in the first-ever application to vary a group costs order.
Sports
Parramatta Eels may drag Storm into Zac Lomax case
The Parramatta Eels has flagged the possibility of joining the Melbourne Storm to its case against wantaway player Zac Lomax, saying the rival club may need to answer claims it entered into discussions “in bad faith”.
Class Actions
Mercedes-Benz denies defeat device claims, says engine features for safety
Mercedes-Benz has hit back at a class action over alleged emissions cheating, denying its cars were fitted with defeat devices and arguing any engine features found to act as such devices were needed for safety.
Courts
Legal privilege stands despite transcript’s production in earlier suit
A judge has upheld a legal privilege claim over a transcript of an interview between a solicitor and a priest in an abuse case, despite the transcript's production in another case by an insurer without an assertion of privilege.
ASIC
Sarah Court to be first female chair of ASIC
Sarah Court has been appointed as the first female chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in the regulator's 35-year history.
Financial Services
SMBC wins case against Humm over Forum Finance fraud
Japanese bank SMBC, which was duped by fraudster Bill Papas to enter into agreements with a Humm subsidiary for assets and receivables that didn't exist, has won the right to call in warranties on its $113.7 million investment.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Epic Games hearing to go ahead despite Google settlement
A hearing on the relief Fortnite maker Epic Games is entitled to in its successful competition case against Google and Apple could be affected by a hearing on a worldwide settlement reached by Google, a judge has said.
Media
Nine can’t keep details of settlement with Ben Roberts-Smith mistress under wraps
Nine has lost its bid for a 50-year suppression order over the details of a settlement reached with Ben Roberts-Smith's former mistress, with a judge finding it would be useless given the settlement has already been covered in the media.
Public Corruption
Sofronoff takes challenge to integrity commission findings to appeals court
Senior barrister Walter Sofronoff is pressing on with his fight against the ACT Integrity Commission's findings that he engaged in corrupt conduct in his inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's criminal prosecution for rape.
Legal Ethics
Lawyer wins appeal over $5M settlement for shelving class action
A Canberra solicitor has won his challenge to disciplinary action over a settlement that included a $3.5 million benefit for his law firm in return for mothballing a potential overcharging class action against another firm.
