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Chinese investors can offload property, recoup losses from failed investment scheme
A Gold Coast development property procured through a settlement with a Sydney-based financial advisory firm facing two separate class actions can be sold to recoup losses by investors who sank over $14 million into a property investment scheme, a court has found.
Judge hits AMP with $5.2M penalty, says greedy financial adviser was ‘in the right place’
The Federal Court has imposed a penalty of almost $5.2 million on AMP Financial Planning after finding it was "reckless" in its “lamentable failure” to properly respond to a now banned adviser who was churning life insurance for higher commissions.
Sydney financial advisor hit with $14.5M class action by Chinese investors
A Sydney-based financial advisory firm has been hit with a class action by a group of Chinese investors over a property investment and visa scheme that allegedly saw group members lose $14.5 million in funds.
Crown wins challenge to ‘impermissible’ order letting jailed staff talk to class action firm
Crown Resorts has successfully challenged a ruling allowing law firm Maurice Blackburn to communicate with 18 formerly jailed employees to gather evidence in its shareholder class action against the casino giant.
Court has power to make cy-pres orders in class action settlements, judge says
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.
Judge says no need to clarify referees’ role in PFAS class actions
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.
Top 10 class action settlements of 2019
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. 
Elaine Stead hits Nine with defamation suit over Blue Sky coverage
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.
Judge OKs $29M settlement in Radio Rentals class action
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.
Canberra property developers suffer partial loss in GST class actions
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.