Victoria

Pitcher Partners has argued in its case against a former client over a $1.3 million abort fee that treating proposed deal changes as material departures would enable parties to avoid such fees by putting forward absurd terms. 

A developer has taken builder LU Simon to court, seeking an order that it pay $8.7 million in liquidated damages for failing to complete a $74 million residential development in Box Hill on time.

A group of funders is advocating for reforms to address the dearth of new class action filings in the NSW Supreme Court, with a group costs order regime similar to the one in place in Victoria said to be under consideration.

More parties have joined the land acquisition compensation dispute between Victoria and the joint venture owners of Pakenham Place Shopping Centre, a court heard Thursday.

Youth detainees in a Melbourne correction facility were encouraged to “bash” other detainees in exchange for cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol, according to a new class action launched against the state of Victoria. 

An appeals court has knocked back a constitutional challenge by the developers of a $38 million residential development seeking to set aside an adjudication determination on the basis that the Victorian SOP Act conflicts with the Australian Consumer Law. 

The Supreme Court of Victoria has agreed to transfer a case against the former CEO of ASX-listed software company Dubber and its solicitor to the Federal Court, to be heard alongside a case against auditor BDO and civil penalty proceedings by ASIC.

Former Carlton president and PwC chief executive officer Luke Sayers has lost his bid to transfer his wife’s defamation case over an explicit image posted to his social media account to the Family Court, where the proceedings would be confidential. 

Melbourne-based firm Carbone Lawyers has filed a case against two former solicitors who moved to a rival firm, claiming they breached their confidentiality obligations.

Noting the aging group members, a judge has pushed the parties in two class actions against aged care facilities over COVID-19 outbreaks to shoot for a 2027 or early-2028 trial date.