Commonwealth Bank and other lenders of failed steel giant Arrium have lost a second attempt to put two of the company’s directors on the hook for alleged misleading representations on loan drawdown notices ahead of its $2.8 billion collapse.
The High Court has agreed to hear the appeals of two former Dick Smith exes following judgments that awarded a total of $55 million in damages to NAB and the receivers of the defunct electronics retailer.
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.
Two former executives of defunct electronics retailer Dick Smith have asked the High Court to hear their challenge to a $11.8 million damages award for approving a dividend payment the company could not afford.
Several lenders have appealed a ruling that found they failed to prove steel giant Arrium falsified representations on loan drawdown notices ahead of its $2.8 billion collapse, saying it was a “no brainer” that the company was in dire straits when its directors sought extra funds.
A judge has signed off on a $56.3 million settlement in a class action against wealth manager Colonial First State that will see Maurice Blackburn earn $14.5 million in costs, saying it was a good example of the class action regime in operation.
The High Court has dismissed Crown Resorts’ bid for special leave to appeal in a $100 million dispute over GST assessments on commissions and rebates paid to tour operators that directed international VIP gamblers to two of its casinos.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn will ask a court to approve $14.5 million in costs for running a class action against Colonial First State that has settled for $56.3 million, giving account holders 75 per cent of the proceeds.
Colonial First State will pay $56.3 million to settle a class action that accused the wealth management group of delaying the transfer of $3.2 billion in customer funds to low cost MySuper accounts.
The Federal Court won’t permit a Melbourne-based judge to travel to Sydney on the dime of the parties in a class action against wealth management group Colonial First State, but will foot the bill itself.