A judge has blessed a law firm’s $16.6 million legal bill for running two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven despite a contradictor’s argument that it had a “troubling” practice of deferring its fees to benefit the funder that bankrolled the cases.
A Federal Court judge has recused himself from hearing a fraud trial against Forum Finance, after expressing that he had an “unfavourable” impression of director Vince Tesoriero’s reliability as a witness.
Bill Papas’ business partner Vince Tesoriero has won the release of $1.25 million to pay for his legal fees in Westpac’s fraud case against him, despite a judge’s finding that disclosure concerning his true financial position was “less than ideal” and included “staggering” discrepancies.
Forum Finance director Vince Tesoriero has been caught out for failing to declare over $150,000 to the court, as he took the stand to defend evidence given about his financial position in Westpac’s fraud case against him.
A judge has told Forum Finance director Vince Tesoriero to “revisit” evidence about his true financial position if he wants to win the release of $1.25 million to pay for his defence in Westpac’s fraud case against him, amid concerns about whether he has made full disclosure to the court.
A judge has granted a litigation funder for two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven an interim payment to cover its costs ahead of a ruling on how much it can pocket from a $98 million settlement.
A litigation funder for two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven has asked a court for a $16.6 million payout to cover its costs before a judge rules on how much it can pocket from a $98 million settlement.
A judge overseeing two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven that settled for $98 million has been urged to cut the payout to the law firm running the cases because it had a “troubling” practice of deferring its fees.
Bill Papas’ girlfriend Louise Agostino has hit back at Westpac’s lawsuit accusing her of involvement in the Forum Group director’s alleged $294 million fraud, denying all allegations and arguing that the bulk of the bank’s claims against her should be struck out.
No evidence was produced of a deferred fee arrangement between the law firm and funder backing franchise class actions against 7-Eleven, and the “unequivocal” denial by the solicitor running the cases should be accepted, a court has heard.