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$192.5M oil spill class action settlement gets nod, but firm’s cut to be decided
A judge has approved a $192.5 million settlement in an oil spill class action on behalf of Indonesian seaweed farmers, but the slice for the law firm running the action and its litigation funder remains to be determined amid allegations of negligence by the former lead applicant in the case.
Law firm shaves 0.5% off payout in second go at class action contingency fee
Maurice Blackburn has had a second crack at a group costs order in three class actions against banks over alleged flexible commission schemes after a judge in 2021 rejected what was then the first-ever application for a contingency fee.
Landmark Santos greenwashing case to centre on meaning of ‘clean’
A case brought by a shareholder advocacy group accusing Santos of misleading the market by ‘greenwashing’ its environmental credentials will centre on the meaning of the word ‘clean’, a court has heard.
Ex-Nuix director wants class action shelved until ASIC case wraps up
A former Nuix director has made a bid to stay a shareholder class action, which accuses the software company of failing to alert the market to red flags in the business, pending the outcome of separate proceedings by ASIC.
Late judgment in ASIC case derails Quintis class action trial date
A judge has vacated an upcoming trial in shareholder class actions against former Quintis director Frank Wilson and Ernst & Young, after learning judgment in similar ASIC proceedings against Wilson will not be delivered before the class action hearing kicks off.
Top 10 class action settlements of 2022
Class action settlement sums reached new highs last year, with the ten largest agreements totalling almost $1 billion, almost half of which was secured by one plaintiff law firm.
Cladding supplier fights to keep class action from accessing sales figures
The Australian supplier of alleged combustible cladding is opposing a class action applicant’s bid for information ahead of settlement talks on the quantity of cladding sold in the country between 2009 and 2019.
‘Spectre’ of business interruption class actions laid to rest with test cases, insurers argue
Insurers will file de-classing applications in four class actions on behalf of small businesses seeking coverage under business interruption policies for losses flowing from COVID-19 restrictions after their test cases largely failed. 
Westpac can’t keep lid on total premiums paid in ‘junk’ insurance class actions
Westpac has lost a bid to keep group members in the dark about the premiums paid for allegedly worthless consumer credit insurance, information the bank said could inflate expectations about settlements worth $126 million reached in three class actions.
Westpac opposes ‘premature’ notice of $126M class action settlement
Westpac has objected to several proposed notices going out to group members in a class action over ‘junk’ consumer credit insurance, which three of the Big Four banks have agreed to pay $126 million to settle.