The High Court will hear a challenge by Western Power to an appeals court judgment which found that the state-owned electricity supplier breached its duty of care to inspect power poles on private land and was partly liable for property damage from the 2014 Perth Hills bushfire.
The Full Court has upheld two judgments that shortened patent term extensions granted to Merck Sharpe & Dohme and Ono Pharmaceuticals, finding the extension regime cannot be construed as achieving a “commercial outcome for a patentee”.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has appointed former MinterEllison managing partner Annette Kimmitt as CEO after an “extensive” recruitment process, a year to the month after she was shown the door at the Big 6 firm for her controversial staff emails about a partner’s work for then Attorney-General Christian Porter.
National fitness chain F45 has appealed a court decision revoking two of its patents for a computer-run trainer workout system, arguing its system constituted a technological innovation in the field of fitness studio franchising which rival Body Fit has profited from.
Nine Network has hit back at a defamation lawsuit filed by the CEO and founder of Euro Pacific Bank, Peter Schiff, arguing that he knowingly endorsed tax evasion and attracted criminals by situating the bank in “notorious” locations with lax reporting requirements.
Westpac has yet to commence extradition proceedings against Forum Finance director Bill Papas due to concerns that the alleged fraudster may face only contempt charges if he is brought back to Australia prematurely.
A judge will approve a $28 million settlement resolving a class action against Arnold Bloch Leibler over advice the law firm gave to Slater & Gordon ahead of a disastrous acquisition. A 28 per cent commission for the case’s funder will also get the court’s nod.
Qantas has been ordered to pay $9.5 million in unpaid fees after the Western Australia Supreme Court resolved a dispute over the “fair and reasonable” amount owed for terminal services provided for the airline’s domestic and international flights.
The liquidator of collapsed vocational education provider Careers Australia can serve its lawsuit on two of the company’s former directors now living overseas, after a judge found a prima facie case of insolvent trading and breaches of directors duties had been made out.
Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has strengthened its financial services practice by luring two seasoned partners from Minter Ellison.