The lead plaintiff in a class action alleging police conducted thousands of unlawful strip searches at music festivals in NSW has sought $130,000 in damages on the first day of trial against the state.
A judge has approved a $180 million settlement in a stolen wages class action but has criticised the plaintiff’s law firm for the costs incurred in the case and raised doubts about the value of litigation funding.
The lawyer representing applicants in sexual harassment and discrimination class actions against mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto has said there may be thousands of group members.
A judge is concerned that if he approves all payouts sought by lawyers and funders from a $13.5 million settlement in a class action against a Quintis director, group members will only he left with just 18 per cent.
The plaintiffs in a shareholder class action against Lendlease have lost their bid for further discovery from the builder, with a judge taking a swipe for their “flagrant” failure to meet deadlines.
Class action settlements leaped in value last year, with three settlements topping the $200 million mark.
Funder LLS has urged the court to approve its 20 per cent cut of a $202 million settlement in a stolen wages class action, saying that reducing the “bottom end” rate could deter investments in public interest class actions.
The Commonwealth says funder LLS should not be allowed a 20 per cent cut of a stolen wages class action settlement of up to $202 million, arguing it could produce an “excessive deduction”.
A judge presiding over a class action against Fletcher Building has clarified his relationship with the director of a litigation funder which is the basis of a recusal bid.
The NSW government can’t appeal a decision that denied its bid to subpoena the names of 2,316 registered group members in a class action over allegedly unlawful strip searches at music festivals.