Most Recent
High Court says duty of care for economic loss can arise only if company assumes responsibility
A class action has lost its appeal to the High Court in a case alleging Advanta Seeds owed damages to farmers for the economic loss resulting from its negligence in producing contaminated grain sorghum seed, with the justices clarifying that a duty of care may be established only if responsibility is assumed.
High Court to rule on force of disclaimer to shield manufacturers from economic loss claims
The High Court is scheduled to hand down a judgment in a class action on Wednesday on the power of a product disclaimer to protect manufacturers from claims they owe a duty of care to protect purchasers from pure economic loss.
ACCC approves Louis Dreyfus’ proposed acquisition of Namoi Cotton
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has approved France-based Louis Dreyfus' proposed acquisition of ASX-traded cotton gin operator Namoi Cotton, after accepting an undertaking that allayed its competition concerns.
Class action against Quintis founder settles, but law firm fight looms over ‘parasitic’ claim
A Gadens-led class action against former Quintis director Frank Wilson has settled, but a second class action filed by a rival firm has flagged a potential claim on the settlement funds over a cause of action said to have been “picked up parasitically”. 
Firm to foot Monsanto’s legal bill in Roundup class action, but costs order limited
Plaintiff firm Maurice Blackburn will foot the bill for the unsuccessful class action against Monsanto over weed killer Roundup, but the company's reluctance to split the trial in two has come back to bite it.
ASIC accuses COFCO of manipulating wheat futures markets
ASIC has brought civil penalty proceedings against Chinese government-owned agri-business COFCO, alleging it manipulated the market for Eastern Australian wheat futures market contracts in 2022. 
ACCC raises concerns about Olam’s bid for Namoi Cotton
The ACCC has raised concerns that Singaporean agricultural giant Olam Agri Holding’s bid to acquire ASX-traded cotton ginner Namoi Cotton could reduce competition and stick cotton farmers with higher prices, one month after flagging similar concerns with Louis Dreyfus’ competing takeover proposal. 
High Court clarifies ‘dominant use’ in land tax exemption for animal farms
Unanimously dismissing an appeal by thoroughbred breeding and horseracing giant Godolphin, the High Court has ruled on the proper construction of a tax exemption for rural land in NSW.
ACCC raises concerns over Louis Dreyfus’ proposed takeover of Namoi Cotton
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has expressed concerns that France-based Louis Dreyfus’ proposed acquisition of ASX-traded cotton gin operator Namoi Cotton could substantially lessen competition and lead to higher prices for ginning services.
Australian cattle groups accused of infringing bovine gene patent
A US-based animal genomics company has taken Australia's leading livestock and dairy groups to court, alleging they have infringed its patent for a system for conducting genetic testing on beef and dairy cattle by doing genetic testing without a licence.