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A class action is expected to be launched this week on behalf of hundreds of passengers and crew of the Greg Mortimer cruise liner who were exposed to the coronavirus on a voyage to Antarctica in March.
Law firm should personally pay costs for individual pelvic mesh cases, judge says
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A judge has found that the law firm behind a plethora of pelvic mesh lawsuits filed in multiple courts should be personally hit with costs for its “keystone cop-like conduct” in handling the proceedings, but has given the firm a week to convince him otherwise.
High Court’s scrapping of Chorley exception doesn’t extend to inhouse lawyers, judge rules
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The High Court’s abolition of the so-called Chorley exception does not apply to a party’s in-house counsel, which is still permitted to seek its own legal costs for prosecuting or defending a proceeding, a judge has found.
Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial vacated over coronavirus, national security concerns
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The six-week trial in four defamation cases brought by war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith has been pushed off because of restrictions on in-person hearings and the Attorney-General’s decision to invoke national security law and cloak the proceedings in secrecy.
Settling plaintiffs get first dibs on Parkerville bushfire defendant’s assets
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The first-past-the-post principle applies to enforcement of settlements in collective actions over a 2014 bushfire in Western Australia, a judge has held, in a ruling that could have ramifications for all class actions.
Arnold Bloch Leibler wins access to Quindell due diligence docs
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Arnold Bloch Leibler has been granted access to due diligence docs related to Slater and Gordon’s $1.2 billion acquisition of professional services firm Quindell, to use in its defence of a class action over advice it gave on the troubled acquisition.
Judge OKs $49.5M settlement in NAB class action
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A judge has signed off on a $49.5 million settlement in a class action against National Australia Bank over ‘junk insurance’, including millions in fees for the firm that brought the case on a no-win, no-fee basis, despite calling the settlement sum a “substantial compromise”.
7-Eleven class action trial delayed due to coronavirus
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The parties in two class actions against 7-Eleven brought on behalf of franchisees have agreed to delay an upcoming hearing by ten months, due to challenges with discovery, evidence and witness statements resulting from coronavirus-related restrictions.
Early common fund order in stolen wages class action ‘greatly enhanced’ access to justice, judge says
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A common fund order made at the outset of a class action against the state of Queensland over stolen wages opened the historic $190 million settlement up to “thousands more” disadvantaged people who were affected by the state government’s “discriminatory, unjust…and disgraceful” policies, a judge has said.
Court won’t freeze AMP class action amid High Court appeal
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A judge has declined to put a Maurice Blackburn-led class action against AMP on hold while the High Court decides whether to overturn a ruling awarding the firm carriage of the matter following a high-stakes battle against three other law firms.