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Dixon Advisory class action loses novel bid for docs to use in mediation
A judge has refused a lead applicant’s novel bid for financial information to use at settlement discussions in a group proceeding against Dixon Advisory.
SkyCity sets aside $45M for AUSTRAC case
SkyCity has set aside $45 million for its legal costs and a possible penalty in AUSTRAC proceedings alleging it allowed $4 billion in suspicious transactions at its casino.
Borrowing funds to run class actions ‘not appropriate’, says expert
Class actions throw up all manner of ethical conundrums, but a recent Federal Court decision has shined a light on the question of whether funders and law firms should take out loans to run class actions and whether they can charge the costs to group members.
Pelvic mesh law firm can’t recover $32M in interest on loan to fund class action
Shine Lawyers has lost its bid to recover $32 million in interest on a loan it took out to run two pelvic mesh class actions against Johnson & Johnson, with a judge finding it would make a “marginal settlement less than reasonable”.
Public interest defence not defined by truth, ABC tells court in Heston Russell defamation case
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has defended its reporting of alleged war crimes in a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell, saying the debate over whether its stories were in the public interest “rises well above truth”. 
EY points finger at Blue Sky in shareholder class action defence
Auditor Ernst & Young has filed cross-claims against Blue Sky in a shareholder class action accusing the collapsed investment firm of misleading shareholders by misstating its assets under management.
ABC source for Heston Russell articles told reporter his memory was ‘hazy’, court hears
A source for ABC articles over alleged war crimes that are at the centre of a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell told reporters his memory of the events was "hazy", a court heard Friday.
Class action would have been ‘infinitely better’ than COVID-19 insurance test cases, judge says
A judge overseeing four COVID-19 business interruption class actions has questioned a decision by insurers to use ten test cases to resolve the issue of whether they had to indemnify policyholders instead of a class action, which would have been binding. 
Oil spill class action firm wins settlement hearing fees, including bill for tax advice
Despite a judge's complaint that class action costs are generally "out of control", the law firm that secured a $192.5 million settlement and earned about $25 million in fees in the Montara oil spill case has won approval for more fees -- these ones incurred in a hearing to determine how the settlement spoils should be divided.
Shine’s bid for $32M in loan interest raises ‘never seen before’ conflicts: judge
Shine Lawyers’ bid to recoup "exorbitant" interest on a loan it took out to run pelvic mesh class actions against Johnson & Johnson has raised new ethical dilemmas beyond the usual "sweaty palms and huge vexation" in most group proceedings, a judge has said.