Australian fresh fruit trader Red Rich Fruits has agreed to change potentially unfair contract terms that forced growers to provide credits for rejected fruit, amid concerns by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission of widespread non-compliance in the industry.
A judge has refused to separately hear an application by a Clive Palmer-controlled company to wind up a time-share scheme at Queensland’s Palmer Coolum Resort, describing the bid as an attempt by the company to avoid making admissions about its conduct, which allegedly resulted in the “death of the resort”.
Facing cross claims by Pitcher Partners in two shareholder class actions alleging the accounting firm wrongly signed off on Slater & Gordon’s financial reports ahead of a share price nosedive, the law firm and its ex-directors say they relied on the auditor to ensure the veracity of the statements.
The former directors of Murray Goulburn, who admitted in proceedings brought by the ACCC to aiding in false representations the dairy co-op made to farmers about the farmgate milk prices it would pay during the 2015-16 season, are now facing a separate lawsuit by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Domino’s Pizza says it will defend a class action filed against it on behalf of thousands of delivery drivers and in-store workers who were allegedly systemically underpaid by franchisees over a five-year period.
The ABC and News Corp are bringing legal action to challenge warrants authorising controversial raids by Australian Federal Police on the headquarters of the public broadcaster and the home of political journalist Annika Smethurst.
Mortgage provider and Brisbane Broncos sponsor Firstmac has hit fintech giant Zip Co with a lawsuit for allegedly infringing its “Zip” trade mark.
Media companies facing defamation suits by a former youth centre detainee are liable for third-party comments posted on their Facebook pages, a judge has ruled in a groundbreaking decision.
The Western Australian parliament will this week introduce a new class actions regime modelled on the federal scheme, in a move the state Attorney-General says will enhance access to justice and improve efficiency.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and seven other unions have launched legal action on behalf of 27,000 workers over an alleged “sham” bonus scheme designed to pressure staff into accepting a future enterprise agreement.
For information on rights and reprints, contact subscriptions@lawyerly.com.au
