Slater and Gordon has agreed to consolidate its data breach class action against Medibank with one brought by Baker McKenzie, after the judge overseeing the cases railed against competing class actions.
A judge overseeing a class action over the Optus data breach will order the Information Commissioner to appear in court to explain the “delay and uncertainty” surrounding a number of representative complaints before the OAIC which are hampering the court proceedings.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has revealed that its files were among those exposed in a cyberattack against law firm HWL Ebsworth.
Data connected to HWL Ebsworth’s work for several Victorian government departments and agencies has been released on the dark web following a cyberattack against the law firm.
A damning report by a royal commission into the former federal government’s Robodebt scheme has recommended several individuals be referred for civil action or criminal prosecution, finding it was “a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal”.
Data exposed by a cyberattack against law firm HWL Ebsworth included “sensitive personal and government information,” according to Australia’s newly appointed National Cyber Security Coordinator.
Optus has denied class action claims that customers suffered loss and damages for its alleged negligence in relation to last year’s massive data breach and argues they are not entitled to compensation for distress, frustration or disappointment that does not amount to a recognised psychiatric illness.
A judge has cautioned two law firms running competing shareholder class actions over last October’s cyber attack on Medibank that they must keep their focus on the best interests of clients and group members, saying lawyers can lose sight of that duty when arguing for their case.
Medibank is now facing five class actions over last October’s cyber attack that left exposed the personal data of 9.7 million customers, this one by shareholders of the private health insurer.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has raised Medibank’s capital adequacy requirement by $250 million, following last year’s cyber attack against the private health insurer, which exposed the personal details of 10 million customers.