Class Actions
Record 39% contingency fee ‘not an outlier’ when ROI factored in: court
A law firm has won a 39 per cent cut of a $27 million class action settlement with vehicle leasing company FleetPartners, the largest contingency fee percentage awarded to date.
Environment
Land Court gives all-clear to Bowen Basin Coal’s mine extension
The Queensland Land Court has recommended the approval of Bowen Basin Coal's Meadowbrook project to extend its Lake Vermont open cut coal mine near Dysart, over objections from environmental activists.
AI
Anthropic signs first Australian data centre lease in $31.9B Qld digital park
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has reportedly signed its first Australian data centre lease, located in a $31.9 billion digital park in Queensland built by a Singaporean developer.
Construction
Villawood fights bid to withdraw admissions in fraud case over Wallan development
Property developer Villawood has argued that a company incorporated to manage a project in regional Victoria can't withdraw admissions over an alleged fraudulent scheme by a former director to divert management fees.
Class Actions
Full Court tosses Plus500’s bid to stay class action over arbitration clause
The Full Court has rejected trading platform Plus500's bid to stay a class action by investors who lost money on highly leveraged contracts for difference in light of an arbitration clause in its terms and conditions, upholding a finding that the clause was an unfair contract term.
Class Actions
Victoria seeks to declass pepper spray class action
The state of Victoria wants to declass a representative proceeding brought on behalf of climate protesters over Victoria Police's use of pepper spray, telling a judge it is prepared to negotiate individually with the 50 group members.
Discrimination
IVF class action flags constitutional fight over Limitation Act
A class action over Medicare rebates for fertility treatments has flagged a constitutional fight in the case, saying Victoria's limitations legislation was inconsistent with federal human rights laws.
Class Actions
Commonwealth loses bid to declass ADF harassment class action
The Commonwealth has lost its bid to strike out and declass a class action on behalf of female Australian Defence Force employees who allegedly faced systemic harassment and discrimination.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Keystone’s Paul Chiodo sues City Built director for $200M
A company controlled by Paul Chiodo has lobbed a $200 million suit targeting City Built director Roberto Filippini, with the former Keystone director joining the company's liquidators in chasing millions in alleged misappropriated development funds.
Intellectual Property
Pfizer loses patent case over Enbrel generic
Pfizer has lost a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Bioepis over the generic version of its blockbuster autoimmune drug Enbrel, with a judge finding all but one of the patent's claims is invalid.
