Coles and Woolworths estimate they will need to remediate underpaid workers up to $780 million, following a complex judgment in two class actions and regulatory proceedings handed down last week.
A judge has criticised the “unacceptably complex” trial of two regulatory cases and two underpayments class actions against Coles and Woolworths, delivering a ruling whose significance for the workers is not yet clear.
A judge has approved a 33 per cent group costs order in a class action against Sportsbet, saying the relatively high rate was justified by the risks of running the “relatively novel case”, which seeks repayment of gambling losses stemming from allegedly unlawful services.
JB Hi-Fi has lost its bid for a hearing on a separate question in a class action over allegedly worthless warranties, with a judge saying the novel question has not been considered by the High Court and could lead to appeals.
Maurice Blackburn is seeking a 33 per cent cut of any settlement in a class action against Sportsbet, arguing that law firms “doing well” for themselves by running class actions is an inherent feature of the contingency fee scheme.
JB Hi-Fi wants an advance ruling in a class action on the period of cover provided to customers for breach of statutory guarantees under the consumer law, a question that has never been addressed by the courts.
A judge has found that there is no need to revise the 27.5 per cent group costs order secured by Slater and Gordon following the consolidation of two class actions against Insurance Australia, despite the likelihood of a larger payout to the firm.
A judge has temporarily excused uranium miner Paladin Energy from providing initial discovery in a shareholder class action, as the parties wait for a competing class action to be filed.
Insurance Australia Limited and Insurance Manufacturers of Australia have denied a class action’s claims that they misled insurance customers about loyalty discounts by calculating their premiums using an algorithm designed to maximise renewals.
A judge has approved a bid by two law firms to join forces in class actions against Harvey Norman, but has ordered that a costs monitor be appointed to protect against duplication.