Clare Langford

The court battle between APAC and major shareholder Dexus over the sale of an investor's stake in the airport operator went to a hearing this week, but it's the solicitors representing the warring parties that found themselves on trial.

A judge has threatened to vacate the trial in Dexus’ case against Melbourne Airport operator APAC after all the defendants tried to file documents late, suggesting the lawyers may be hit with personal costs orders.

Questioning of the first witness in Dexus' case against Melbourne Airport's operator was an hour in when trial was halted by the judge, who complained of flying by the seat of his pants, documentary evidence-wise.

Dexus can question APAC's chair on the material relied on by the Melbourne Airport operator in issuing a default notice requiring the real estate asset manager to sell its stake, ahead of trial in a fight over the validity of the notice.

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. 

The NSW government's bid for the names of 2,316 registered group members in a class action over strip searches at music festivals has been knocked back by the court.

A Queensland builder has been hit with $8.7 million in damages after residents of its townhouse development in Tweed Heads South, NSW suffered damage from defective waterproofing.

The lead plaintiff in a class action alleging NSW Police conducted illegal strip searches at music festivals has argued the state cannot rely on a defence that the searches were a reasonable exercise of power, after a recent judgment found the defence does not apply to unlawful arrests.

The NSW government is seeking to strike out class action claims for exemplary damages, arguing allegations that police conducted strip searches at music festivals as a matter of routine “lack specificity at every level”. 

A judge hearing a class action against the New South Wales government and police commissioner over allegedly illegal strip searches at music festivals has criticised the state for failing to comply with court orders on time.