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. 

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.

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. 

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.