Camping retailer 4WD Supacentre has been fined $63,000 by the consumer regulator for misleading ‘was/now’ price comparisons that suggested consumers could achieve significant savings.
Companies and other defendants forked over big sums last year to settle more than 20 class actions, with a total of at least $734 million being paid out. Here are the top 10 class action settlements and the law firms and funders that negotiated them.
A judge has given his seal of approval to a $29 million settlement that resolves a class action over Radio Rentals’ Rent, Try, $1 Buy scheme alleging customers were kept in the dark about the true cost of their rentals.
A settlement has been reached that brings an end to a class action against a Queensland law firm for allegedly charging personal injury clients excessive fees but does not resolve the claims of group members.
Vocus Group has agreed to settle a shareholder class action over a 2017 profit downgrade, with its insurers footing most of the bill to resolve the proceedings.
Uber has failed to put the brakes on a massive class action alleging the ride-sharing giant engaged in a conspiracy to steal business from taxi and limousine drivers across four states.
A Federal Court judge has slapped Volkswagen with a record $125 million penalty over its emissions cheating scandal after expressing outrage at a “manifestly inadequate” $75 million settlement agreement reached with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
A judge has vacated an upcoming trial date in a criminal cartel proceeding against mobile equipment provider Country Care Group and two individuals, and allowed the defendants to appeal a first-of-its-kind ruling on jury directions in criminal cartel cases.
A planned class action by Shine Lawyers, pegged as “Australia’s largest class action,” over allegedly toxic firefighting foam at eight Commonwealth military bases won’t be filed this month and has turned to bookbuilding following a landmark High Court ruling striking down common fund orders at the outset of class actions.
A Federal Court judge has ordered Westpac to pay a $9.15 million penalty after one of its financial advisers breached the best interests duty by giving customers bad advice that resulted in millions in losses.