Class Actions
NSW mulls contingency fees to bring class actions back to state
A group of funders is advocating for reforms to address the dearth of new class action filings in the NSW Supreme Court, with a group costs order regime similar to the one in place in Victoria said to be under consideration.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
Optus failed to protect data in White Pages breach, privacy watchdog says
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has found telco Optus failed to protect the data of customers whose personal information was listed in the White Pages after they sought an unlisted number.
AI
Firmus Grid directors to give evidence in $100M share dispute
The founders of AI data centre start-up Firmus Grid have been subpoenaed to give evidence in a dispute between former business partners Simon Raftery and Ben Madsen over $100 million in company shares, ahead of an expected $7 billion IPO.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Sev.en flags misleading conduct case over sale of Millmerran Power Station stake
Power plant investor Sev.en has filed an urgent application for access to the financials of Millmerran Power Station as it looks to sell its stake in the energy infrastructure asset, saying it may have claims of misleading conduct.
Class Actions
‘It’s the principle’: Judge says funding should have been disclosed in detention class action
A judge has said a "garden variety" funding agreement in a class action against the Commonwealth on behalf of former detainees of two South Australian immigration detention centres that has settled for $28 million should have been disclosed to the court.
Competition & Consumer Protection
JB Hi-Fi to refund customers $250,000 over was/now pricing
JB Hi-Fi will refund customers over $250,000 after the consumer watchdog raised concerns the electronics retailer's 'was/now' pricing campaign was misleading.
Competition & Consumer Protection
RSA Express misled customers about online training courses, court finds
A judge has found that online training provider RSA Express, which reaped $8 million from consumers who paid for courses they did not complete, made misleading representations that customers would only pay for courses after they passed.
Energy & Natural Resources
CITIC loses appeal against Mineralogy over $12B Sino Iron project
Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy has prevailed in an appeal as part of so-called mega litigation brought by CITIC over the $12 billion Sino Iron project in WA, with the court taking aim at both sides for the "intolerable" cost to the community of their endless dispute.
High Court
High Court rules unpaid present entitlements not loans, in loss for ATO
The High Court has found that an unpaid present entitlement to a corporate beneficiary is not a loan under tax law, tossing an appeal by the ATO.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Judge in Coles discounts case mulls one hearing on damages, penalty
After it was found to have engaged in misleading conduct over its 'Down Down' discount campaign, Coles may face a single hearing on the punishment to be meted out to it in the ACCC's case and a companion class action.
