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Not ‘plainly wrong’: NSW appeals court sticks to guns on class closure
The NSW Court of Appeal has said it has no power to exclude group members who do not sign up to a class action from participating in a settlement, upholding a controversial decision that the Full Federal Court said was “plainly wrong”. 
7-Eleven class action funder’s $12M cut seemed ‘plainly too little’, says appeals judge
A judge hearing an appeal by a funder over its cut of a $98 million settlement in franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven has said the $12 million commission was “plainly too little”, and questioned if the class action judge had been "stuck" on the idea that common fund orders are bad. 
Judge says settlement offers should operate as bulwark against costs in class actions
A judge has held that there could be favourable costs consequences for Carnival if its rejected $15 million settlement offer in the Ruby Princess class action turns out to be more generous than the ultimate damages award, departing from a previous ruling that so-called Calderbank offers do not operate in group proceedings. 
Ruby Princess class action rejected $15M settlement offer, court told
Cruise ship operator Carnival PLC has flagged a bid for indemnity costs after the lead applicant in a class action over a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess rejected a $15 million settlement offer.
Picking class action winner on strength of law firm’s experience entrenches dominance, appeal says
A law firm that lost a contest to run a class action against Toyota unit Hino has appealed a decision to give the case to a larger rival based on past experience, saying the ruling would act as a deterrent to smaller firms wanting to enter the market for group proceedings.
Franchisee class action against Hog’s Breath Cafe thrown out
A judge has dismissed a franchisee class action against the Hog’s Breath Cafe restaurant chain after the lead applicants failed to hand over $1.23 million in security for costs.
Ruby Princess class action heads to Full Court after plaintiff wins no damages
The lead applicant in a class action against Carnival PLC over a COVID-19 outbreak aboard its Ruby Princess cruise ship has lodged an appeal after she won her negligence case but walked away with only out-of-pocket expenses totaling $4,000.
Top 10 class action settlements of 2023
Companies and government entities paid out less to settle class actions in 2023 than in the previous two years, with no mega settlements hitting their pocketbooks.
Maurice Blackburn beats out rival in contest to run Hino class action
A judge has awarded carriage of a class action against Toyota unit Hino to Maurice Blackburn, finding that the law firm’s experience and resources trumped those of small personal injury firm Gerard Malouf & Partners, despite its alliance with a large US firm. 
High Court overturns class action waiver finding in Ruby Princess case
The High Court has overturned a ruling that barred foreign passengers from a class action over the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise in 2020, finding a class action waiver in the terms and conditions of their tickets was unenforceable under Australia's consumer laws.