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ATO can’t toss lawsuit by Melbourne migration lawyer who fled to Romania
The Commissioner of Taxation has failed in his bid to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a bankrupt migration lawyer who fled to Romania and owes $4.7 million in taxes, but has managed to strike out some claims a judge found had "no reasonable prospect of success".
Top 10 class action settlements of 2020
Payouts in class actions in 2020 largely kept pace with the previous year despite the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, with companies and other defendants paying more than $696 million to settle class actions last year.
Law firm seeks $16M from $112M Robodebt class action settlement
The law firm that led an unfunded class action against the Federal government over the controversial Robodebt scheme will ask the court to approve up to $16 million in legal costs when it seeks approval for the $112 million settlement reached in the class action last year.
Judge remains concerned about conflict of interest in PWC privilege battle with tax office
Assurances that PwC can be a defendant in a privilege fight with the ATO while representing three other defendants in the proceedings and avoid a conflict of interest has failed to allay concerns raised by a Federal Court judge, who said the situation created "at least an appearance of tension".
Robodebt judge will have fight on hands if government challenges class action legal fees
The applicant in the settled Robodebt class action has warned a judge he will have a "dispute on [his] hands" if the government presses an argument that law firm Gordon Legal is not entitled to some of its legal fees -- an argument the court was told would put the Commonwealth in breach of the settlement deed.
NSW can’t shield docs in ACCC competition case over ports privatisation
The NSW government cannot assert public immunity over cabinet documents sought in a case brought by the ACCC over an allegedly anti-competitive agreement for the privatisation of Port Botany and Port Kembla.
ATO loses landmark case over GST gold scam
The Australian Taxation Office has been blocked from indirectly recouping GST lost in a major tax scam by allegedly crooked gold traders with the Full Federal Court finding a $208 million demand sent to a defunct gold refiner had incorrectly interpreted the GST Act.
Robodebt class action settles for $112M on first day of trial
The parties in a class action against the Federal Government over the controversial Robodebt scheme have reached an in principle settlement as the first day of a highly anticipated hearing was scheduled to kick off.
Judge rejects public interest immunity argument over war crimes docs in Ben Roberts-Smith case
The chief of the Australian Defence Force has lost a bid to keep information obtained by a war crimes inquiry from three news publishers defending against a defamation suit by war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith.
Judge questions vulnerability of group members in Robodebt class action
A judge has expressed doubts that every group member in the Robodebt class action is vulnerable, as the parties gear up for two-week trial in the high-profile case over the unlawful debt recovery method that begins Monday.