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‘Well outside the median range’: Judge questions GCO rate in FleetPartners class action
A judge has expressed concerns about the plaintiff’s proposed group costs order rate in a shareholder class action against fleet management company FleetPartners, saying the purpose of the GCO regime was to lower costs to group members.
Litigation funder hits pay dirt with taxi driver class actions against Uber
The funder behind two class actions against Uber, which have settled for $272 million, stands to make a tidy sum if the settlement holds up at a court approval hearing.
I did not commit fraud: Disgraced Banksia silk says he was denied natural justice
He was struck from the roll for his part in the darkest chapter of Victoria's legal history, but that hasn't stopped Banksia class action silk Norman O'Bryan from representing himself in an appeals court challenge to what he claims was a denial of procedural fairness and a false finding of fraud.
Slater & Gordon gets OK to have separate counsel at GCO settlement approval hearing
Slater & Gordon has won the court's nod to be separately represented at an upcoming settlement approval hearing where it will seek a $12.8 million group costs order for running a shareholder class action against G8 Education.
Class action firms that play nice should not have a leg up in beauty parade, court told
Appellate guidance is needed on whether a history of cooperation between law firms that brought competing class actions can be the deciding factor in a close carriage contest, the Victorian Court of Appeal has heard.
Judge fell short of expected standards of conduct, legal watchdog finds
A County Court of Victoria judge has been found to have breached the standards of conduct generally expected of judicial officers in his handling of a rape trial, following a complaint by the state's top prosecutor.
Public housing class action tossed, but judge gives applicant another shot
A judge has granted the Victorian government’s bid to dismiss a class action over its decision to retire Melbourne’s high-rise public housing towers, but allowed the applicant to recast his claim, despite protests from the state. 
Victoria Supreme Court judge a ‘convert’ on group costs orders
A judge on the Supreme Court of Victoria says he is a ‘convert’ on group costs orders, which allow law firms running class action to earn a cut of any settlement or judgment, saying GCOs will give better returns to group members and that conflicts can be managed.
Charges dropped against Victorian government over hotel quarantine program
Charges accusing Victoria's Department of Health of health and safety breaches during the state's hotel quarantine program have been dropped on the eve of trial, after the state succeeded in excluding evidence submitted to an inquiry into the disastrous program.
In discontinuing COVID-19 class action, judge weighs in on when a case is over
Proceedings are capable of being determined by the act of filing a discontinuance, a judge has said in approving an application for the discontinuance of a class action over Fire Rescue Victoria’s COVID-19 risk management practices.