Judgment

Two victims of collapsed investment firm Courtenay House have won a case against the real estate agent who persuaded them to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into the $180 million Ponzi scheme.

The director of a documentary about a US narcotics officer during the 1990s 'war on drugs' has won his copyright suit against the film's producers, with a judge finding his moral rights under the Copyright Act were infringed by their failure to credit him as the director.

A Federal Circuit Court judge who has been in the spotlight for his decisions has scolded a Perth law firm and barrister facing a sexual harassment case, after they sought to vacate the trial date due to counsel availability.

A judge has approved a $13.5 million settlement in a class action against the director of collapsed sandalwood producer Quintis, but has reduced deductions sought by the plaintiff's lawyers and funder, and denied a payout to the funder of a competing case.

Bayer and Teva have lost their challenge to Indian drug maker Cipla’s extension of its patent for an allergy medication, with IP Australia finding a failure to pay renewal fees on time was due to a genuine error. 

The tax office has won the appointment of special purpose liquidators to entities behind a number of Queensland construction projects, as it seeks to claw back a claimed $16 million debt.

A judge has thrown out a class action led by the father of famed mining investor Nathan Tinkler over claims ASX-listed Whitehaven Coal failed to fulfil an implied term of a $150 million share subscription. 

Courts continue to disagree on the meaning of 'serious harm' in defamation law, a threshold test introduced in 2021 that has raised the bar for plaintiffs claiming a publication has damaged their reputations.

Roberts Construction has won indemnity costs against a company that unsuccessfully pursued a winding up application against it, as well as a personal costs order against its director.

Healthcare equipment company Ansell has won default judgment against an unknown threat actor behind an October data breach, with a judge citing similar orders made following a cyberattack against law firm HWL Ebsworth.