Appeals
Wilkinson tells appeals court Lehrmann judge distracted by cover-up claims
Journalist Lisa Wilkinson has told a court her qualified privilege defence was wrongly rejected in ex-Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case, arguing the trial judge focused too heavily on the Network Ten's reporting of the difficulties Brittany Higgins faced in reporting the rape at the centre of the case.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Mastercard doc privileged despite ‘inadvertent’ disclosure during Baker McKenzie review
A judge has found that Mastercard can maintain legal professional privilege over a document that was inadvertently sent to the ACCC in 2020 after lawyers at Baker McKenzie had to review 100,000 documents in less than two months.
Intellectual Property
Court rejects ‘entirely unwarranted’ attack on Allens solicitors in fight over lift IP
A court has dismissed a lift supplier’s appeal of a decision rejecting its claim of breach of confidence against a rival, including an “entirely unwarranted” attack on solicitors at Allens over the use of documents obtained by “internet-savvy” search techniques.
Competition & Consumer Protection
ALS waived privilege over parts of McGrathNicol report in coal testing spat: court
Testing lab ALS Limited has partially lost its bid to shield a forensic investigation by McGrathNicol in relation to claims of exaggerated coal testing results, with a judge finding it sought to use the findings to dissuade regulators and others from bringing claims.
Class Actions
Supersized? Judge wants to know value of McDonald’s class action claims
A judge overseeing a class action on behalf of 300,000 allegedly underpaid McDonald’s workers wants to know the monetary value of the claims, while also questioning why the initial trial in the complex case is set to run for 35 days.
Appeals
Qatar Airways wants High Court to limit liability for injury claims
In a bid to snuff out the negligence claims in a recently revived case by passengers forced off a flight and strip searched at Doha airport, Qatar Airways has brought its own High Court challenge.
ASIC
ASIC looks to strike out Clive Palmer’s ‘incredibly weak’ case
ASIC is again seeking to strike out mining magnate Clive Palmer's lawsuit over examinations conducted by the regulator, with Palmer claiming the pleadings are "crystal clear".
Cryptocurrency
AUSTRAC orders crypto exchange Binance to appoint auditor
The financial crimes regulator has ordered the Australian unit of the world's largest crypto exchange, Binance, to appoint an external auditor after flagging concerns about its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance.
Class Actions
Blue Sky class action not fleeing to Victoria after High Court solicitors’ CFO ruling
A class action against Blue Sky Alternative Investments won't seek to transfer the case to contingency fee-friendly Victoria despite a High Court ruling that put the kibosh on solicitors' common fund orders.
Energy & Natural Resources
Enviro group’s challenge to Woodside’s $16.5B Scarborough gas project fails
A court has found no legal error in a regulator’s decision to approve Woodside’s environmental plan for its Scarborough gas project in Western Australia, finding the company was not required to specify what would be an acceptable level of emissions.
