The settlement arrangement resolving five class actions against Volkswagen, which carved out hefty legal fees from the $120 million payout to drivers, could become more prevalent as the spotlight is once again trained on the cost of class actions. But the approach is not without controversy, experts say.
Norton Rose Fulbright has lost its second partner this month, with the defection of IP specialist Helen MacPherson to Baker McKenzie.
IP Australia has rejected a patent application by financial software firm Intuit, finding that its invention was not a manner of manufacture and contained “nothing of substance” from which patentable claims could be found.
Eight months after defeating a case brought by the prudential regulator alleging breaches of superannuation laws, wealth manager IOOF has escaped a class action without paying a cent to shareholders.
Logistics company GetSwift and its directors have failed in a bid for a year-long delay of a trial scheduled to start next month in ASIC’s case alleging breaches of the Corporations Act, despite arguing that the procedural unfairness of a remote hearing gave the regulator a leg-up over the US-based company.
Heiko Constructions has won approval to appeal a ruling from Federal Circuit Court Judge Salvatore Vasta that found the company committed a breach of the Fair Work Act that was not pleaded by the former employee who brought the case.
Boral has successfully defended a lawsuit brought by a subsidiary of building products supplier Wagners, which previously estimated it would take a $10 million financial hit for suspending a cement supply contract with the construction giant.
US food giant Kraft-Heinz wants the High Court to hear its intellectual property stoush with Bega after twice losing the battle over the right to use its peanut butter trade dress in Australia.
In a major blow to Australian businesses, the Full Federal Court has ruled that casual employees who work regular shifts are entitled to paid annual, personal and compassionate leave under the Fair Work Act.
A judge has granted Qantas an injunction temporarily blocking the Fair Work Commission from hearing a case brought by the union for the airline’s stood-down aircraft maintenance engineers, saying the issues raised in the case had potentially wide ramifications for all Australian businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.