Sebastian Hartford Davis

A judge has threatened to vacate the trial in Dexus’ case against Melbourne Airport operator APAC after all the defendants tried to file documents late, suggesting the lawyers may be hit with personal costs orders.

Questioning of the first witness in Dexus' case against Melbourne Airport's operator was an hour in when trial was halted by the judge, who complained of flying by the seat of his pants, documentary evidence-wise.

The High Court has approved the imposition of additional land tax on non-residents and foreign-owned entities, finding that the Commonwealth government had the power to limit the application of international tax agreements.

A judge has dismissed a class action applicant’s claim that he was underpaid as a University of Sydney postgraduate student, but left for another day the question of whether the court should also make orders binding group members. 

The eSafety Commissioner has told the Full Court X Corp should not be able to use its merger with corporate predecessor Twitter to escape regulation.

A group costs order giving class action solicitors a percentage cut of the proceeds of a case is a factor in weighing whether proceedings should be transferred from Victoria to a state in which such an order could not operate, the High Court has ruled.

Are group costs orders a factor in deciding a bid to transfer a class action? Can the orders survive the move to an inhospitable state? These questions are to be decided by the High Court Wednesday, in a ruling that will clarify the relevance and reach of Victoria's contingency fee regime.

As the High Court hears oral arguments this week on the reach of power to make common fund orders for firms and funders bringing class actions, Lawyerly gives a cheat sheet on what the justices could do.

Noumi and auditor Deloitte will pay $43 million to resolve a class action alleging the company misled investors about its inventory, and the class action will make a play for a $5 million penalty agreed to in ASIC proceedings.

ASIC wants the Full Court to overturn a finding that Noumi waived privilege over a PwC report produced under a voluntary disclosure regime, arguing the regime benefits the public in making investigations more efficient.