Judges

Class action experts have come to the defence of boutique law firm Phi Finney McDonald as heavyweight Maurice Blackburn appeals a judge's ruling to choose the "less experienced" firm to lead a shareholder class action against BHP Billiton.

A judge has taken Qantas to task over its defence in a Fair Work case brought by the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association union over alleged underpayments to LA-based mechanics, calling the document "extremely unhelpful".  

An unprecedented joint-sitting of two appeals courts will this week hear a constitutional challenge to the power of judges to make so-called common fund orders, a challenge that could have significant ramifications for class actions even if they don't fall foul of the 'vibe of the thing'.

A class action against Ethicon over allegedly faulty pelvic mesh implants wants introduce confidential evidence from prior settlement negotiations as it attempts to shut down the medical device maker's class closure application.

Visa has resolved a lawsuit by a fintech founder alleging it misused its market power by banning the use of dynamic currency conversion services in several countries, including Australia and the US.

A judge has signed off on a $16.4 million settlement of a class action against Cash Converters, but not before scrapping a clause he said tied the court's hands by making the deal conditional on the appointment of Maurice Blackburn as scheme administrator.

Generic drug maker Sun Pharma has emerged victorious in a lawsuit brought against it by Mylan relating to Sun's plans to launch a generic version of cholesterol drug fenofibrate.

We Buy Houses' director Rick Otton has withdrawn his appeal of a ruling that slugged him with a $6 million fine for misleading property investors, the highest ever penalty imposed on an individual for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.

A wholesaler that supplied leaking hot water bottles and exploding candle holders to retailers in Victoria has been fined $415,000 for distributing the dangerous products in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

AIG Australia has appealed a decision that found it's liable for covering four former directors being sued by collapsed Kaboko Mining after a failure to repay a US$5.95 million loan allegedly led to the company's insolvency.