Crime
Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail in war crimes case
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has won bail under strict conditions after persuading a NSW judge there were exceptional circumstances in favour of releasing him from custody pending trial.
Class Actions
‘The court expects more of lawyers’: Judge reams class action litigators
A judge has bawled out lawyers in a case against water treatment firm Phoslock and auditor KPMG for putting forward a High Court ruling for the mistaken proposition that he had power to make the class closure order sought.
M&A
IAG’s proposed $1.35B acquisition of RACWA faces further review, again
The ACCC will look deeper at IAG's proposed acquisition of the RACWA's insurance operations for the second time, saying there were concerns the transaction could substantially lessen competition.
AI
Federal Court goes its own way with AI practice note
The Federal Court has taken a more permissive approach to the use of generative AI than the NSW Supreme Court, allowing tools like ChatGPT to be used in creating affidavits with the proviso that the use must be disclosed.
Legal Ethics
Banksia silk says he’s already been punished, should not go to jail
Former silk Norman O’Bryan argued Thursday for no prison time after pleading guilty in a criminal case over his role in the Banksia Securities class action. And he could win the argument, with a judge saying she was considering a community service sentence.
Class Actions
Court urged to trim funder’s cut of $67M QSuper settlement
A contradictor has recommended the court trim $3 million from a funder's cut of a $67 million settlement in a class action against QSuper, saying the court should not allow 'double dipping' given the funder was shielded from some risk by ATE insurance.
Appeals
Appeals court strikes down NSW protest law passed after Bondi attack
The NSW Court of Appeal has struck down a law passed in the wake of the Bondi massacre that barred protest after a terrorist incident, finding it unconstitutional.
Class Actions
Barro Group faces class action over emissions from Victorian landfill
Concrete company Barro Group is facing a class action on behalf of landowners over emissions from its Sunshine landfill in a Melbourne suburb, which has been on fire for over six years.
Intellectual Property
Maker of ‘Rebel Whopper’ wins fake meat patent
The start-up behind Hungry Jack's plant-based 'Rebel Whopper' has won court approval to patent a fake meat product after an opponent didn't participate in its appeal of an IP Australia ruling that held the patent lacked inventive step.
Energy & Natural Resources
Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting must pay royalties in iron ore mine battle
Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart could be on the hook for millions of dollars in royalty payments, in a long-running battle over lucrative iron ore mining tenements in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
