A consolidated class action’s bid to include claims concerning dairy company a2 Milk’s disclosures to the New Zealand stock exchange is in doubt, despite broad agreement between the parties that the claims can be pursued in Victoria.
AMP has admitted ASIC’s allegations that it acted unconscionably in charging life insurance premiums and advice fees to deceased customers, but the wealth manager will go head to head with the regulator over how much it should pay for its contraventions.
The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group has hit back at ASIC proceedings alleging it saddled hundreds of thousands of customers with cash advance fees after providing them with incorrect account balances, saying its customers were “expressly on notice” the fees would be charged.
BHP and mining equipment company Epiroc Australia have been sued for alleging infringing a patent held by Rio Tinto subsidiary Technological Resources for an autonomous drilling system.
A shareholder class action against Ernst & Young over its alleged inflation of assets owned by sandalwood producer Quintis has argued the accounting firm should be allowed only one expert witness, who should collaborate with a competing expert chosen by the investors.
A class action on behalf of former clients of collapsed wealth manager Dixon Advisory has filed a court bid for information on any insurance policy held by the business that might cover the mammoth claims, estimated to be worth between $278 million and $463 million.
Several lenders have appealed a ruling that found they failed to prove steel giant Arrium falsified representations on loan drawdown notices ahead of its $2.8 billion collapse, saying it was a “no brainer” that the company was in dire straits when its directors sought extra funds.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will not seek to enforce a $7.2 million penalty agreed to by Dixon Advisory after admitting to the regulator’s allegations that it failed to act in its clients’ best interests.
Slater & Gordon has defeated Shine Lawyers in a contest to run a shareholder class action against Beach Energy, with a judge finding Shine’s tiered contingency fee arrangement was “mere window dressing”.
A former Greenwoods & Freehills partner will argue he is entitled to whistleblower protection in his lawsuit against the tax advisory firm and Lendlease, alleging he was forced to leave after refusing to put his name to a tax return and making protected disclosures.