Insurance

The judge overseeing a class action against collapsed investment manager Blue Sky has said he would not be inclined to seek clarity from the Full Court on whether the court has the power to make a solicitors common fund order unless one of the defendants raised a challenge.

A judge has upheld a ruling that rejected a bid by two class actions against Victorian aged care providers for insurance and financial information, finding the court likely does not have the power to order the production of documents that are not relevant to the proceeding.

A judge has refused a bid by four major insurers to obtain the names of small businesses that register to join COVID-19 business interruption class actions, saying he did not want the companies contacting group members. 

The judge hearing a bondholders class action against Virgin Australia has deferred the resolution of the airline’s cross-claim seeking seeking periodic payments from the class action to cover its costs under a contentious indemnity clause.

Lender White Oak Commercial Finance will bring a novel claim against insurer Bond & Credit Company alleging it owed a duty of care to disclose an investigation into Greensill when it bought securities from the collapsed financier’s German-based bank.

The digitisation of healthcare has left the industry particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks, and protecting consumers from breaches is one of the biggest challenges facing the sector, according to a new health law partner at Wotton + Kearney. 

A judge has questioned a challenge by two class actions against Victorian aged care providers to a ruling that rejected their bid for insurance and financial information, which the defendants argue would have far-reaching implications.

Westpac has been hit with a class action for allegedly overcharging superannuation customers for insurance coverage, months after paying $30 million to settle a separate superannuation class action.

A bondholder class action against Virgin is heating up, with the airline filing a cross-claim seeking the court’s approval to demand periodic payments from the applicant to cover its costs under a contentious indemnity clause.

A judge has raised concerns about expert evidence in a dispute between Acciona Infrastructure, Ferrovial Construction and three insurers over losses during construction of the $695 million Pacific Highway in NSW, saying the expert referral process had “gone off the rails”.