Companies

Financial services provider IOOF may have beaten back regulatory action, but it still faces the wrath of shareholders, with a new class action claiming the firm engaged in corporate misconduct that includes insider trading, front running and breaches of trustee duties.

Westpac has criticised Shine Lawyers for allegedly turning a registration and opt out notice to class action members into a 'sales pitch' designed to book-build for the firm, saying the High Court's recent common fund ruling forbade approval of anything designed to boost the commercial viability of a case.

Supermarket giant Coles may be hit with a class action after it was revealed on Tuesday that the company owes staff in its supermarket and liquor businesses at least $20 million in pay.

Dam operator Seqwater will appeal its loss in a long-running class action over the 2011 Queensland floods that destroyed over 2,000 homes, a move derided by the lawyer for the flood victims, who called for "an end to the injustice" her clients have suffered.

The judges overseeing two competing class actions against Monsanto in the Federal and Victorian Supreme Courts may hold a joint sitting as the multiplicity fight continues and the chemical giant flags a future bid to either transfer or permanently stay the state court proceeding.

The lead applicants in seven class actions against auto manufacturers over explosive Takata airbags have criticised the courts for losing their way in ensuring justice is done, in a landmark challenge to class closure orders made in the cases.

Coles underpaid salaried staff members in its supermarket and liquor businesses at least $20 million over the past six years, the company revealed in announcing its half-yearly results.

National Australia Bank's "grossly deficient" systems and failure to swiftly bring its processes into compliance prompted ASIC to launch its second fees-for-no-service case against the bank, the Federal Court has heard.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has lost its challenge to an Australian Federal Police search warrant authorising a raid on the broadcaster's Sydney headquarters last year.

Search giant Google may face a class action by disgruntled business owners seeking compensation for loss and damage they claim has been caused by anonymous negative online reviews.