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Shine blames delays in class action settlement approval for 90% profit drop
Delays in court approval of settlements in their pelvic mesh class actions against US giants Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific have been blamed for Shine Lawyers' 89.39 per cent decline in net profits for 2023.
PFAS class action judge OKs $132.7M settlement, $33M CFO
A judge has blessed a $132.7 million settlement and a $33 million common fund order in a class action over toxic firefighting foam, saying he was “not vexed” by whether he had power to grant the funder’s payout despite the Full Court having reserved on the contentious issue. 
Norovirus class action faces ‘lurking’ stay issue
After surviving multiple strike-out bids, a class action against Carnival over norovirus outbreaks on its Sun Princess cruise ship is still facing a “lurking" issue about a potential stay in relation to the claims of a subset of group members.
Norovirus class action defeats Carnival’s latest strike-out bid
A class action against Carnival over norovirus outbreaks on its Sun Princess cruise ship has defeated the cruise operator’s second strike out bid, with a judge saying the failure to identify what exactly went wrong “may not be fatal” to the case.
Blue Sky director points finger at EY in shareholder class action
A Blue Sky director has pointed the finger at auditor Ernst & Young in a class action alleging the collapsed investment firm misled shareholders by misstating its assets under management. 
Dixon Advisory class action loses novel bid for docs to use in mediation
A judge has refused a lead applicant’s novel bid for financial information to use at settlement discussions in a group proceeding against Dixon Advisory.
Borrowing funds to run class actions ‘not appropriate’, says expert
Class actions throw up all manner of ethical conundrums, but a recent Federal Court decision has shined a light on the question of whether funders and law firms should take out loans to run class actions and whether they can charge the costs to group members.
Pelvic mesh law firm can’t recover $32M in interest on loan to fund class action
Shine Lawyers has lost its bid to recover $32 million in interest on a loan it took out to run two pelvic mesh class actions against Johnson & Johnson, with a judge finding it would make a “marginal settlement less than reasonable”.
Resort not vicariously liable for actions of urinating employee, High Court says
The High Court has found a Whitsundays resort is not vicariously liable for the actions of an employee who urinated on his roommate in staff accommodation after a night of drinking, finding the act had "no real connection" to his employment.
EY points finger at Blue Sky in shareholder class action defence
Auditor Ernst & Young has filed cross-claims against Blue Sky in a shareholder class action accusing the collapsed investment firm of misleading shareholders by misstating its assets under management.