Retail

The lead applicant in a class action against 7-Eleven has appealed a ruling that denied its bid to block the convenience store chain from seeking litigation releases from franchisees upon renewal of their contracts.

Unfunded group members in two shareholder class actions against online fashion retailer Surfstitch have been told they are likely better off to opt out of a settlement if a judge approves $6 million in fees and a 30 per cent commission sought by the law firms and funder that brought the cases.

A Federal Court judge has given the receivers for Harris Scarfe four more months to find buyers for 39 of the struggling department store chain's retail outfits, as they look to prevent the company from being wound up.

Camping retailer 4WD Supacentre has been fined $63,000 by the consumer regulator for misleading 'was/now' price comparisons that suggested consumers could achieve significant savings.

The founder of defunct whitegoods distributor Kleenmaid faces jail time after a jury on Friday found him guilty of 19 charges of fraud and insolvent trading relating to the collapse of the company, including a $13 million fraud on Westpac.

A judge has given his seal of approval to a $29 million settlement that resolves a class action over Radio Rentals' Rent, Try, $1 Buy scheme alleging customers were kept in the dark about the true cost of their rentals.

Petrol station convenience store chain On The Run is facing a possible class action over allegations that it has underpaid employees at over 145 stores throughout South Australia.

Coles has agreed to pay about $5.25 million to dairy co-operative Norco after an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found the supermarket giant failed to pass on the full price rise it charged consumers for Coles-branded fresh milk as it promised to do.

Woolworths is facing a class action alleging it underpaid workers to the tune of $620 million, more than double what the supermarket giant estimated when it disclosed the underpayments scandal last month.

The funders behind two shareholder class actions against online fashion retailer Surfstitch Group will seek a commission of up to 30 per cent while the law firms that brought the cases will ask for approval of up to $6 million in legal fees during an upcoming settlement approval hearing, which also puts the fate of a deed of company arrangement that saved the company from liquidation on the line.