Tax
High Court to hear ATO, Billabong founder’s appeals in $30M tax spat
Billabong founder Gordon Merchant has won the ear of the High Court in his fight over what the ATO claims was a "wash sale" of his 10 million shares in the retailer, but the justices have also agreed to hear the tax office's appeal.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
Herald Sun claims exemption in privacy invasion case by Sam Groth’s wife
The publisher of the Herald Sun denies it defamed Victorian Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth and argues it's exempt from new privacy laws, in a defence to a lawsuit over reports on the timeline of the politician's relationship with his wife.
Competition & Consumer Protection
4D Medical sues Cyclopharm over ‘misleading’ statements elicited by ‘fake’ question
ASX-listed biotech 4D Medical has sued competitor Cyclopharm alleging the company made false, misleading and malicious statements about its rival during an online webinar prompted by a "fake" question.
Class Actions
Shine Lawyers wants EML class action fee bumped back to rejected rate
The contingency fee rate sought by Shine Lawyers in its bid to vary a group costs order in a class action against EML Payments has been revealed as the percentage profit it initially proposed to a judge, who took an ax to it three years ago.
Intellectual Property
Scidera’s bovine gene patent suit survives summary dismissal bid
Animal drug company Zoetis has lost its bid for summary dismissal of claims that it infringed US-based animal genomics company Scidera's bovine gene patent, with a judge saying its novel arguments were not so clear-cut and needed to be worked out at trial.
Aviation
Fight set over docs in revived strip search case against Qatar Airways
The applicants in a case over strip searches conducted of female passengers on a Qatar Airways flight at Doha Airport want the airline to produce any communications with other planes, and to do so by month's end.
Corporate
Lander & Rogers appoints corporate partner from Clayton Utz
Lander & Rogers has recruited a contracting specialist from Clayton Utz for the law firm's corporate practice in Canberra.
Construction
Court tosses fifth suit against Frasers over One Central Park planter boxes
Owners of apartments in Sydney's One Central Park, who are embroiled in disputes with developer Frasers over defective planter boxes on the building's façade, can't get a court declaration to impact rectification works.
Construction
Judge vacates trial in $27M suit over defects in Liverpool residential development
A judge has vacated an upcoming trial in a $27 million lawsuit against a unit of Coronation Property over alleged defects in a Liverpool high-rise.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Pentana can’t withdraw admissions in misuse of market power case
A judge has declined car dealer software supplier Pentana's bid to withdraw admissions made over four years ago in a dispute with competitor Titan DMS.
