The judge overseeing seven class actions against car makers over defective Takata airbags has shot down the applicants’ opposition to a soft class closure order in advance of mediation, saying the cases would not be a “mystery tour” from here on out.
Group members in a recently settled class action against Westpac unit BankSA over its conduct in connection with convicted Ponzi schemer Michael Samra are expected to get 40 per cent of the confidential settlement, a result a judge said wasn’t as bad as he might have feared.
Fitch Ratings has agreed to settle the last of the investor class actions in Australia flowing from the global financial crisis, a court heard Friday.
Merck Sharp & Dohme has claimed ownership of a Pfizer patent related to the blockbuster Prevnar 13 vaccine, after a doctor who moved between the pharmaceutical companies and is listed as an author on the patent allegedly accessed confidential Merck documents before jumping ship to Pfizer.
Two former executives of Dick Smith may seek to vacate an upcoming trial date for two class actions against the failed retailer, after recently being hit with cross claims by the company’s former auditor, Deloitte.
The Federal Court has granted auto giant Ford’s request for the costs of an anti-suit injunction it sought in the PowerShift transmission class action that was ultimately unnecessary after the class was denied its bid to access discovery from similar proceedings in the United States.
Streetwear brand Globe International has alleged department store chain Kmart was reasonably aware it was infringing copyright, after internal emails revealed Kmart clothing designers shared links to Globe’s workwear designs before proposing to trial “this more youthful workwear… ASAP”.
Prosecutors will oppose a bid by ANZ, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank to cross-examine witnesses at the upcoming committal hearing of the criminal cartel case over ANZ’s botched $2.5 billion institutional share placement.
Allianz and a number of other insurers of Dick Smith are now facing a class action over the extent of coverage under an insurance policy for the collapsed electronics retailer’s initial public offering.
Frank Wilson, solicitor and founder of failed sandalwood producer Quintis, has been ordered by a court to repay a $13.3 million loan used to invest in a 215 hectare Indian sandalwood plantation.