A judge who has been an enthusiastic lab rat in the virtual hearing experiment forced on the country’s courts by the COVID-19 pandemic has expressed doubts that he is accurately reading witnessses giving remote evidence.
A judge has suggested that a class action against the New South Wales government over a mandate requiring healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 should be de-classed, saying it was a “straightforward point” because no financial relief was sought.
The Federal Court has issued a worldwide freezing order over the assets of Bill Papas’ partner, which includes the proceeds of the $1.13 million sale of her home in Sydney’s inner west.
Western Australia premier Mark McGowan has been ordered to appear in person in a Sydney court to give evidence at trial in a defamation case by mining billionaire Clive Palmer, but a judge has pushed back the hearing so McGowan can attend state parliament.
Clive Palmer has won his bid to view text messages between Western Australian premier Mark McGowan and the state attorney-general discussing a bill to ban the billionaire mining magnate from suing the state for $30 billion.
Forum Finance director Bill Papas’ cousin has hit back at Westpac’s allegations he wrongfully received $720,000 from the alleged fraudster in violation of freezing orders made in the bank’s lawsuit, which seeks to recoup $294 million paid into an alleged fraudulent scheme.
The Transport Workers Union has appealed a judge’s decision that compensation was a more appropriate remedy for 1,800 Qantas workers who had been denied the “matchless blessing” of a job than reinstatement.
A judge has criticised the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for treating timetabling orders in its insider trading case against Westpac over a $16 billion interest rate swap as though they were “traffic lights in Naples”.
Forum Group’s liquidators are seeking to wind up an entity owned by founder Bill Papas that received over $2.6 in “loans” from the alleged fraudster, as they work to recoup almost $400 million allegedly defrauded from three banks.
The founder of construction giant Ralan Group will face public examination in the Federal Court as liquidators continue their investigations into the company’s $561 million collapse.