Restrictions to combat COVID-19 that forced Australia’s courts to go virtual have had unforseen benefits, and Australia’s top law firms say they don’t want online hearings to be scrapped when social distancing measures are eased.
Court documents sought to be kept confidential in a case alleging professional misconduct against barrister Norman O’Bryan SC in his role as counsel for a class action over the collapse of Banksia Securities accuse the top silk of continuing to have an interest in the funder that bankrolled the proceedings after his wife was said to have sold her shares.
A penalty hearing in the ACCC’s case against health booking company HealthEngine over misleading online reviews has been adjourned after a judge criticised the parties’ joint submissions as “deficient” for failing to explain how a proposed $2.9 million penalty had been arrived at.
A judge has rejected calls to keep confidential the details of professional misconduct claims against the funder and lawyers behind the Banksia Securities class action, in a ruling that revealed that investors of the collapsed lender could recover $30 million more if allegations against the legal team are established at trial.
AFT Pharmaceuticals is seeking to reopen a lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser over ads for its painkiller Maxigesic after judgment was delivered in the matter, claiming the judge’s declarations contained an error, an argument slammed by Reckitt as “extraordinary”.
Australian bookmaker Sportsbet has filed a lawsuit against betting competitor Sportsbetting.com.au for alleged trade mark infringement and consumer law violations.
The settlement of two shareholder class actions against sandalwood producer Quintis has been delayed for a second time, as the parties continue to investigate the company’s eleventh-hour revelation that it may have extra insurance, which, according to the lawyers of one class action, could be worth $46 million to group members.
The prefab concrete company dragged into a class action over the ill-fated Opal Tower has launched its own legal volley against the engineering consultant behind the building design.
The Full Federal Court has dismissed BP’s appeal of a ruling by the Fair Work Commission that reinstated a worker who was fired for sharing a video clip that included subtitles placed over a scene from the movie ‘Downfall’ about Adolf Hitler.
The law firm facing scrutiny over its legal fees in a class action over the collapse of Banksia Securities will argue that if it is found liable for any misconduct in the running of the case at an upcoming trial, the litigation funder and the barristers it briefed share in the blame.