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Court has power to make cy-pres orders in class action settlements, judge says
Class Actions 2020-01-17 10:19 pm By Christine Caulfield

The judge who last month approved a $29 million settlement in a consumer class action against Radio Rentals has held that courts have power to order part of a settlement sum to go to charitable causes where distributing the funds to group members is too hard or impossible.

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Judge says no need to clarify referees’ role in PFAS class actions
Class Actions 2020-01-10 5:05 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

The judge overseeing three class actions against the Commonwealth alleging contamination from the use of toxic firefighting foam at three naval bases has shot down the plaintiffs’ bid for a formal communication reminding two referees of their role in the proceedings.

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Top 10 class action settlements of 2019
Class Actions 2020-01-09 11:21 pm By Christine Caulfield

Companies and other defendants forked over big sums last year to settle more than 20 class actions, with a total of at least $734 million being paid out. Here are the top 10 class action settlements and the law firms and funders that negotiated them. 

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Elaine Stead hits Nine with defamation suit over Blue Sky coverage
Defamation 2020-01-09 1:31 pm By Miklos Bolza

Elaine Stead, venture capitalist and former executive director of doomed fund manager Blue Sky Alternative Investments, has filed defamation proceedings against Nine-owned Fairfax over a series of articles criticising her role in the company’s collapse.

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Judge OKs $29M settlement in Radio Rentals class action
Class Actions 2020-01-09 1:12 pm By Christine Caulfield

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.

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Canberra property developers suffer partial loss in GST class actions
Class Actions 2020-01-08 4:59 pm By Miklos Bolza

The property developers behind two Canberra apartment complexes have been dealt a partial loss in two class actions against them, with a judge finding the developers misled the lead applicants about the GST payable on their units but that only some of them were entitled to compensation or restitution.

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Settlement in class action over ‘excessive’ legal fees won’t cover group members
Class Actions 2020-01-07 6:08 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

A settlement has been reached that brings an end to a class action against a Queensland law firm for allegedly charging personal injury clients excessive fees but does not resolve the claims of group members.

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Reports of death of common fund orders greatly exaggerated
Analysis 2019-12-19 11:46 pm By Christine Caulfield

Common fund orders in federal class actions could live to see another day, the Federal Court has indicated in new guidance to be released Friday, which swiftly responds to a recent judgment by the High Court that appeared to spell their doom.

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Class wins access to Appco insurance docs in sham contracting case
Employment 2019-12-19 10:18 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Appco has agreed to hand over insurance policy documents to the lead applicant in a $90 million sham contracting class action, amid concerns about the dire financial state of the fundraising company as the matter moves towards mediation.

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Westpac class action on shaky ground after High Court ruling
Class Actions 2019-12-19 6:30 pm By Miklos Bolza

A class action against Westpac over allegedly excessive insurance premiums that was at the centre of a successful High Court challenge to common fund orders may back out of funding the case in the wake of the landmark ruling.

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