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Law firm seeks $16M from $112M Robodebt class action settlement
The law firm that led an unfunded class action against the Federal government over the controversial Robodebt scheme will ask the court to approve up to $16 million in legal costs when it seeks approval for the $112 million settlement reached in the class action last year.
Robodebt judge will have fight on hands if government challenges class action legal fees
The applicant in the settled Robodebt class action has warned a judge he will have a "dispute on [his] hands" if the government presses an argument that law firm Gordon Legal is not entitled to some of its legal fees -- an argument the court was told would put the Commonwealth in breach of the settlement deed.
Robodebt class action settles for $112M on first day of trial
The parties in a class action against the Federal Government over the controversial Robodebt scheme have reached an in principle settlement as the first day of a highly anticipated hearing was scheduled to kick off.
Judge says Robodebt class action claims ‘weak’, but refuses government’s appeal bid
A judge has refused an application by the Federal Government to appeal the expansion of the Robodebt class action pleadings despite finding the case was "troubling", "weak" and in certain aspects "[made] no sense whatsoever".
Government challenges expansion of Robodebt class action
The Federal Government is appealing a judge's decision to allow the expansion of the Robodebt class action to include claims against five public officers, including Federal Minister Alan Tudge.
Judge ‘sick to death’ of pleadings fights in Robodebt class action
A judge has slammed the parties in the Robodebt class action for sparring over the pleadings, one week after the class was given leave to add a claim for exemplary damages and allege knowledge of the program's unlawfulness on the part of several government officials and federal minister Alan Tudge.
Victoria’s stage 4 lockdown imperils Robodebt class action trial
An impending three-week trial for the Robodebt class action may be in danger due to stage 4 lockdown measures in place in Victoria to control a second wave of coronavirus cases, with the top lawyer for the class telling the court he might need to step down due to homeschooling obligations if the lockdown overlaps with the trial.
Judge criticises ‘unhelpful’ Robodebt class action applicants as discovery narrows
A judge has narrowed discovery in a class action against the Commonwealth of Australia over allegedly unlawful Robodebt payments, criticising the lead applicants for persisting with an approach to discovery that "was not a particularly helpful one".
Judge accused of ‘very aggressively’ attacking government’s Robodebt defence
A judge has been accused of “very aggressively” raising issues with a barrister for the Federal Government over its failure to amend its defence in a $300 million class action centred on the Commonwealth's controversial Robodebt scheme to match recent public admissions.
Robodebt recipients won’t be asked to waive class action claims
Centrelink recipients eligible for a share of $721 million in refunds on debts paid as part of the controversial Robodebt scheme will not be asked to sign away their rights in an ongoing class action, but whether the Morrison Government will seek to shut down the case remains to be seen.