Defamation
Former WA senator Linda Reynolds wins $315K in defamation case against ex-staffer Higgins
Former senator Linda Reynolds has won $315,000 in damages in her defamation case against ex-staffer Brittany Higgins over social media posts that allegedly implied she mishandled rape allegations against Bruce Lehrmann.
Article
Nuix must foot $20M in legal bills given ‘notorious’ costs of securities class actions: judge
Nuix is on the hook for $20 million before its insurers will cover its legal bills for suits over its $1.8 billion float, with a judge saying there was a good reason for the significant retention given the “notorious” expense of securities class actions.
Financial Services
Insurers lose bid to see Ashurst advice in Greensill dispute
Insurers Bond & Credit Company and Tokio Marine can't eyeball advice given by Ashurst to lender White Oak in a dispute over the collapse of supply chain finance company Greensill.
Employment
Court, union debate what portion of $90M Qantas penalty goes to workers
The Transport Workers Union and a judge have debated how much of a $90 million penalty handed to Qantas should be given to 1,820 workers who were unlawfully outsourced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment
Court won’t bar MinterEllison from repping Peabody in worker’s case
A former Peabody Energy employee who claims she was sacked after raising safety concerns has lost her bid to restrain MinterEllison from representing her former employer.
Business of Law
Big 8 feeling the heat as large law firms scale aggressively: report
With artificial intelligence levelling the playing field, the Big 8 are facing increasing competitive pressure from large firms, which are pursuing an aggressive growth strategy and have outpaced them in demand and profitability over the last financial year, a report has found.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Judge slams solicitors for ‘inordinately’ long submissions in Aurelius suit over $180M deal
German investment firm Aurelius can add new claims in a dispute with explosives company Orica over a $180 million acquisition, but a judge has called out solicitors for both sides for filing material of “inordinate length” on an application concerning well-established law.
Class Actions
Developer wants out of combustible cladding class action to bring $15M ‘copy’ case
A developer for a high rise building in Mascot, Sydney has launched a post-trial bid to opt out as a group member of a class action against cladding manufacturer 3A Composites and supplier Halifax, in order to bring its own "copy" of the case.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Piper Alderman appeals loss in fight to run Google ad tech class action
Piper Alderman is appealing a decision that stayed its competition class action against Google in favour of a competing case, saying group members had been deprived of a "substantially superior" funding model.
Class Actions
RAMS accuses class action of trying to ‘hijack’ ASIC case
Westpac’s defunct mortgage unit RAMS has accused a class action by former franchisees of attempting to “hijack” civil penalty proceedings by the corporate regulator by seeking to intervene in the case.
