Judges

A judge has thrown out a defamation case lodged by former Sydney Flames head coach Shane Heal, who claimed the club published defamatory public statements over allegations he bullied members.

Two law firms have reached an agreement to join their class actions against Harvery Norman alleging the furniture retailer sold worthless warranties.

The corporate regulator has asked the Full Court to stamp out avenues for corporate mischief, as it challenges a finding about the authorised representative exemption to the licence requirement of financial services providers.

A judge has stayed part of a $2.1 million judgment won under the SOPA Act by a builder contracted to work on an RSL club car park in light of payments owing to a sub-contractor under the Contractors Debts Act.

An ACT education department official has dodged a costs order in a case she brought -- then dropped -- over a corruption investigation into a contract awarded to building giant Lendlease.

Green iron start-up Element Zero has lost its latest bid to set aside search orders in a case by Fortescue alleging former employees misappropriated its process for carbon dioxide-free iron. 

After a judge raised concerns underpayments claims against jewellery chain Lovisa were not suitable for a group proceeding, counsel for a class action has suggested running the applicants’ case "as if" it isn’t a class action.

Melbourne accounting firm Blue Rock’s bid to stop a former associate director from soliciting clients to her new firm Nexia has failed, with a judge finding no evidence of an unfair threat to Blue Rock.

Holding Redlich has agreed to cover the costs awarded against its clients in a property spat, after a judge took the law firm to task for generating almost $30,000 in work following a settlement.

A judge has questioned the need for solicitors in a class action against Jaguar to be involved in discovery of internal investigations by the car maker when a technical referee is to be appointed.