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Judge to approve $127M VW class action settlement, but 25% uplift may be axed
After almost five years of litigation, a Federal Court judge said he will approve a $127.1 million settlement of five class actions against Volkswagen over the diesel emissions scandal, but appeared unwilling to sign off on a 25 per cent uplift in fees sought by one of the plaintiffs firms.
Cussons seeks $4.7M in indemnity costs from ACCC for ‘doomed to fail’ cartel case
Personal healthcare giant PZ Cussons is seeking $4.7 million in indemnity costs from the ACCC, claiming the regulator's much hyped spoke and hub case over an alleged laundry detergent cartel was always "overwhelmingly likely" to fail.
‘I have been ignored’: Claimant makes courtroom plea in AMP insurance churn case
An individual claimant accusing AMP Financial Planning of ignoring multiple attempts to gain remediation for alleged insurance re-writing conduct was granted permission to voice his displeasure in court, while ASIC and AMP grapple with the details of a remediation program for insurance churn victims.
Courts criticised for losing sight of justice in Takata airbag class closure challenge
The lead applicants in seven class actions against auto manufacturers over explosive Takata airbags have criticised the courts for losing their way in ensuring justice is done, in a landmark challenge to class closure orders made in the cases.
Judge hits AMP with $5.2M penalty, says greedy financial adviser was ‘in the right place’
The Federal Court has imposed a penalty of almost $5.2 million on AMP Financial Planning after finding it was "reckless" in its “lamentable failure” to properly respond to a now banned adviser who was churning life insurance for higher commissions.
Top 10 class action settlements of 2019
Companies and other defendants forked over big sums last year to settle more than 20 class actions, with a total of at least $734 million being paid out. Here are the top 10 class action settlements and the law firms and funders that negotiated them. 
Judge fines Volkswagen $125M after slamming ‘manifestly inadequate’ ACCC settlement
A Federal Court judge has slapped Volkswagen with a record $125 million penalty over its emissions cheating scandal after expressing outrage at a “manifestly inadequate” $75 million settlement agreement reached with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Takata airbags class actions confirm landmark challenge to class closure order
The applicants in a group of class actions over defective Takata airbags are pushing ahead with a challenge to the power of the NSW Supreme Court to issue class closure orders in the aftermath of a High Court decision shooting down common fund orders, a fight that could send the cases back to the High Court. 
VW class action judge frowns on bid for common fund order
The judge overseeing the settlement approval process in multiple class actions against Volkswagen over the diesel emissions scandal has criticised an application for a common fund order by the funder backing two Bannister Law-led lawsuits.
‘Time for commercial reality to bite’: Judge orders class closure in Takata air bags class actions
The judge overseeing seven class actions against some of the world's largest car makers over defective Takata airbags has ordered that class closure take place in advance of mediation, saying it was "time...for commercial reality to bite".