A judge has released his reasons for consolidating two shareholder class actions against logistics company Brambles over opposition by the lead applicant in one of the competing cases, saying the interests of group members trumped those of the lawyers and funders in the case.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is challenging the dismissal of its enforcement action against National Australia Bank contractor Whitebox Trading and sole director Johannes Boshoff, which accused them of market manipulation that resulted in a spike in the price of securities on the ASX-200 index in October 2012.
Celebrity gardener Don Burke has prevailed in a defamation action brought by one of his accusers, journalist Wendy Dent, over comments he made during a TV interview, with a judge saying his “less than compelling” responses and the interviewer’s skepticism gave rise to “real doubts” about his credibility.
Slater & Gordon has struck back against allegations by a former senior solicitor that he was fired after making complaints about the law firm’s arrangement with a third-party funder for personal injury clients, denying any unethical practices and arguing the lawyer’s termination was part of a cost-cutting restructure.
A court has approved a settlement between the liquidators of failed fund manager Equititrust and auditor KPMG, after not a single objection was raised by unitholders or creditors who won’t receive anything after the entire amount is paid to the funder.
Rugby player Israel Folau, who was sacked after sharing a homophobic Instagram post, will take his unfair dismissal case against Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs to court after a conciliation hearing at the Fair Work Commission failed to resolve the dispute.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has lost its case alleging Kimberly-Clark made misleading representations about its flushable wipes, with a judge finding the consumer regulator failed to provide sufficient evidence to show the wipes caused harm to sewage systems.
The funder backing the IAG add-on insurance class action has agreed to a fixed 25 per cent commission, after the plaintiff copped criticism from a judge for the largely redacted funding agreement which called for lower rates if the case settled by a certain date.
The judge overseeing several class actions over the alleged use of toxic foam at government military bases has appointed a special counsel to hear the Commonwealth’s claims that it should be exempt for producing certain documents due to public interest immunity and legal professional privilege.
The Commonwealth Bank must overhaul its privacy practices as part of a court-enforceable undertaking with the Australian Information Commissioner following two data breaches.
For information on rights and reprints, contact subscriptions@lawyerly.com.au
