The liquidators of construction giant Ralan have been given the go-ahead to pursue a former sales manager and his wife as well as the ATO with claims worth over $18 million, with a judge finding the collapsed company operated “a type of Ponzi scheme”.
A court has blessed a trust’s settlement with Ernst & Young that resolves a negligence case linked to a decade-long tax dispute that went to the High Court, rejecting an objection to the deal and saying it was “time this matter was brought to a conclusion”.
Optus has denied class action claims that customers suffered loss and damages for its alleged negligence in relation to last year’s massive data breach and argues they are not entitled to compensation for distress, frustration or disappointment that does not amount to a recognised psychiatric illness.
A judge has cautioned two law firms running competing shareholder class actions over last October’s cyber attack on Medibank that they must keep their focus on the best interests of clients and group members, saying lawyers can lose sight of that duty when arguing for their case.
A court has imposed a $40 million penalty on Insurance Australia Limited in a case by the corporate regulator alleging NRMA customers were not paid $60 million in promised loyalty discounts.
The NSW government and the former developer of a stalled $2 billion Central Barangaroo development project are headed for a discovery showdown in their $270 million stoush, with both sides fighting to protect what they say are privileged communications.
Medibank is now facing five class actions over last October’s cyber attack that left exposed the personal data of 9.7 million customers, this one by shareholders of the private health insurer.
A judge has rejected TPG-owned Anew Climate’s bid for default judgment against an Australian company that allegedly impersonated a US carbon offset developer in order to unlawfully receive payments under a $1 billion deal, saying “it’s not hard” to make the application under the correct rule.
A Shine Lawyers class action over norovirus outbreaks on Carnival’s Sun Princess cruise ship has called an attempt to see documents outlining its strategy for the case “abusive” and “bizarre”, as the cruise operator continues its fight to have the suit struck out.
The office of the special investigator wants access to evidence in Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case, a court has heard, while Fairfax says it needs to see invoices from Herbert Smith Freehills to the soldier’s financial backer, Seven chairman Kerry Stokes, in its bid for costs.