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Judge makes no bones about trashing ‘Melbourne bone and joint clinic’ trade mark
A Melbourne orthopaedic clinic has lost its bid to register the name ‘Melbourne Bone and Joint Clinic’ as a trade mark, with a judge finding the phrase was just an ordinary combination of words. 
Clive Palmer loses second bid to shut down criminal cases
Mining magnate Clive Palmer has lost an appeal seeking to throw out two criminal cases over a takeover bid and payments to his political party, with an appeals court finding the challenge was an abuse of process.
SkyCity settles with AUSTRAC, puts aside $73M for penalty
SkyCity has reached an agreement with AUSTRAC in proceedings alleging it allowed $4 billion in suspicious transactions, setting aside $73 million to cover penalty and costs.
Government rejects $510M settlement offer in live exports class action
The Minister for Agriculture has rejected an offer to settle a nine-year-old class action over the government’s 2011 ban on the live export of cattle for $510 million plus up to $390 million in legal costs and interest. 
Judge rejects climate challenge to NSW logging agreement
An environmental group has lost its case alleging the federal government failed to take climate change into account when it renewed an agreement for logging in New South Wales, with a judge saying it was a ‘political’ issue rather than one for the courts.
ASIC can’t undo stay of disciplinary case against iSignthis auditor
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has lost its bid to pursue a disciplinary case against former Grant Thornton director Bradley Taylor over his 2018 audit of fintech firm iSignThis while criminal proceedings are ongoing.
Top 10 class action settlements of 2023
Companies and government entities paid out less to settle class actions in 2023 than in the previous two years, with no mega settlements hitting their pocketbooks.
Court OKs $27.5M settlement in unlawful detention class action
A $27.5 million settlement reached in a class action over the alleged unlawful detention of 240 Indonesian children has won court approval, but the applicant's legal costs remain subject to negotiations.
ACT Police Chief can’t intervene in Drumgold challenge to Higgins prosecution report
A judge has refused a bid by the ACT Police Chief to intervene on behalf of the AFP in Shane Drumgold SC legal challenge to the findings of an inquiry into the prosecution of Brittany Higgins' assault claims against Bruce Lehrmann, but has allowed six police officers to be joined to defend the findings.
Government urged to shell out $900M to settle live exports class action
The applicant in a nine-year-old class action over the government's 2011 live exports ban has urged the Commonwealth to pay up to $900 million to settle the case, after earlier settlement efforts flopped.