Robert Craig

Class action settlements hit major milestones last year, with the year’s largest settlements totalling $1.6 billion and one case resolving for a historic $548.5 million.

Hall & Wilcox has struck back at proceedings by the liquidators for collapsed construction group Hastie, saying they have failed to specify why its $18.6 million legal bill incurred in suing two dozen builders is unreasonable.

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. 

Jetstar is seeking an initial trial on an issue it claims will be a “silver bullet” against a class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of customers whose flights were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mercedes-Benz dealers are pressing on with their $650 million battle over the luxury car maker's move to a fixed-priced agency model, taking their case to the High Court.

A class action against Qantas has characterised the airline’s document discovery as “wholly inadequate” and is resisting a bid by the airline for six more months to produce senior management emails.

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.

GM can't strike out a class action over alleged faulty transmissions in Holden cars, with a judge saying the case doesn't need to identify the “precise mechanical, metallurgical or engineering explanation” for alleged defects.

General Motors has moved to strike-out a class action over allegedly faulty transmission systems in Holden cars, arguing the plaintiff needs to plead the alleged design flaw with specificity, not just by reference to symptoms.

A judge has approved a $43 million settlement in a class action action alleging Noumi misled investors about its inventory, including a 22 per cent group costs order to be split between the two law firms that ran the case.