Even after 30 years in action, the future of class actions in Australia remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is the impact class actions have had – for claimants, lawyers, litigation funders and for corporate Australia, writes Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s Chris Pagent, Brad Woodhouse, Alex Ji and Thomas Scott.
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.
The Canberra developer behind the Manhattan on the Park apartment building in the national capital has been hit with a class action on behalf of home buyers who were allegedly misled into paying GST on the price of their property.
The Victorian Auditor-General Andrew Greaves and the State of Victoria are being sued by a former executive who says she was overworked to the point of mental breakdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Billionaire Clive Palmer has been hit with indemnity costs over a discontinued lawsuit brought against aircraft mechanics over the repair of his $2 million private jet.
The High Court has found that Novartis unit Sandoz infringed Danish drug company Lundbeck’s patent for its blockbuster antidepressant Lexapro, but has overturned a ruling that found the generic drug maker owes $26.3 million in damages.
Teleco contractor BSA has reached an in-principle settlement resolving a class action that accuses the company of misclassifying its workforce of technicians as independent contractors.
Cricket Tasmania has denied allegations by a former front receptionist that she was the victim of sexual harassment by Australian cricket players and senior managers, and says she has not suffered loss as a result of any alleged misbehaviour.
The access to justice and efficiency objectives of the 30-year class action regime would be better served by more active scrutiny at the point of commencement, say Allens partners Belinda Thompson and Jenny Campbell.
The High Court has ruled that the “direct and far-reaching ramifications” of a contract between the federal government and Tasmania’s two major airports justifies an order for declaratory relief sought by local councils about the obligation of the airports’ operators to pay rates.