Defamation
High Court won’t hear Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation appeal
The High Court has rejected former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann's special leave application seeking to appeal civil findings that he raped colleague Brittany Higgins.
William Edwards
Judge questions merits of soft class closure in J&J cold meds class action
A judge hearing a class action against J&J over allegedly ineffective cold medications has questioned the merits of soft class closure in large consumer cases where participation is likely be low, just days after another judge raised similar concerns in a case against Toyota.
Intellectual Property
AstraZeneca can inspect Pharmacor emails in fight over Forxiga patent
AstraZeneca can inspect Pharmacor's emails to verify its claim that the merits of its challenge to a patent extension for blockbuster diabetes drug Forxiga were not appreciated at an earlier time, with a judge finding Pharmacor had waived privilege.
Employment
JLL sacked HR head who acted with ‘rigour and integrity’ in harassment probe: suit
The former Australian head of HR at real estate giant Jones Lang LaSalle has sued her former employer, alleging she was unfairly sacked in the fallout of a harassment investigation against an executive, despite having recommended his dismissal.
Article
Former Big Un CEO pleads guilty in insider trading case
The former chief executive officer of Big Un has pleaded guilty to communicating inside information to a shareholder of the defunct video producer.
ASIC
ASIC bans two more advisers for Shield, First Guardian advice
ASIC is not letting up in its pursuit of financial advisors that spruiked the Shield Master Fund and First Guardian Master Fund, banning two more advisors on top of the seven bans it has already imposed.
Employment
Canva settles lawsuit by sacked software engineer
Design tech giant Canva has settled Fair Work proceedings brought by a former software engineer over his sacking.
Employment
BHP fails in same job, same pay appeal bid to High Court
The High Court has refused special leave to BHP in a case testing orders that it pay labour hire workers at its Queensland coal mines the same as its permanent employees.
Appeals
High Court won’t hear Saudi Arabia embassy appeal in dismissal cases
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has failed in its bid for special leave to the High Court, after an appeals court found it couldn't escape unfair dismissal proceedings.
Class Actions
Origin Energy defeats class action’s bid for ‘safety net’ discovery order
A judge has granted most of the documents sought by a shareholder class action against Origin Energy but declined to make a ‘safety net’ discovery order, agreeing with the energy company that it was unnecessary.
