The Federal Court’s recent dismissal of a class action against Iluka Resources provides assurance to companies and their D&O insurers that shareholder class actions are not necessarily merely a cheque writing exercise and that robust defences will be accepted by the courts, says Clyde & Co partner Patrick Boardman.
A case before the High Court could have major implications for company directors, giving shareholders in class actions the power to drag them before court for public examination.
An upcoming three-month trial in a class action against agrochemical giant Monsanto has been vacated after the applicant’s key expert withdrew from the case.
A Federal Court judge has reconsidered her plan to dispense with a hearing to weigh a $1.55 million settlement of two class actions that allege supermarket chain Romeo’s underpaid hundreds of workers at stores in NSW and South Australia.
As parliament weighs the latest Morrison government crackdown on class actions, the Federal Court’s chief judge has warned of “an ever present danger” of maligning the regime.
The first order allowing plaintiffs lawyers to take a cut of the proceeds of a class action will guarantee group members in a case against G8 Education at least 72.5 per cent of any recoveries — a notably higher percentage than the minimum legislated by a controversial bill before federal parliament.
The parties in a class action accusing a Commonwealth Bank of Australia unit of breaching its superannuation trustee duties want the matter to be heard in person and are willing to foot the bill for the judge to travel to Sydney to make it happen.
The corporate watchdog has been subpoenaed for its investigation files in the latest development in a protracted discovery fight in a shareholder class action over alleged misconduct by wealth manager IOOF.
Investors have lost their class action against Perth-based Iluka Resources, the latest shareholder class action to fail after pushing through to trial.
Franchisees of the Hog’s Breath Cafe restaurant chain must pay $1.23 million in security for legal costs in their class action against the franchisor, and the matter is stayed until they can pony up the first installment.