Class Actions
Class action firms ‘doing well’ inherent part of contingency fee law, court told
Maurice Blackburn is seeking a 33 per cent cut of any settlement in a class action against Sportsbet, arguing that law firms "doing well" for themselves by running class actions is an inherent feature of the contingency fee scheme.
Superannuation
ASIC sues Mercer Super over ‘longstanding and systemic’ failures
Mercer Super faces enforcement action by ASIC, alleging the superannuation giant failed to inform the watchdog about investigations into serious issues, including a failure to refund premiums to dead members.
Trials
Murray Darling authority slams class action’s ‘incoherent’ duty of care claim
The public body in charge of managing the Murray Darling’s water resources has slammed as "incoherent" a class action's claims that it owes a duty of care to protect farmers and irrigators against economic loss.
M&A
ACCC flags concerns over Kegstar’s acquisition of only competitor
The competition watchdog has raised concerns over the proposed tie-up of Kegstar and Konvoy -- the only operators in the niche industry of keg pooling -- saying the deal could mean higher prices.
Tax
HESTA super fund says ATO overtaxed it by $11M
HESTA Super has complained that the tax office has unfairly stripped it of $11 million in franking credits, denying it did not hold the credits 'at risk' for the required 45-day period.
ASIC
eToro can rely on late evidence in novel ASIC case over CFDs
Online investment platform eToro has won its bid to rely on late expert evidence in ASIC's first-ever action alleging breach of obligations in designing and selling financial products over high-risk contracts for difference.
Employment
Former Labor MP, now workplace umpire not DQ’d from ‘same pay’ cases: court
A judge has dismissed a bid by a group of labour hire companies to disqualify former Labor MP now Fair Work Commission deputy president Terri Butler from same job, same pay cases for apprehended bias.
Analysis
Apple, Google ruling to boost competition class actions against tech giants
A landmark finding that Apple and Google misused their market power will boost competition claims -- including class actions -- against other dominant digital market players and could prompt the ACCC to consider action, experts told Lawyerly.
Intellectual Property
PepsiCo wins High Court fight with ATO over royalty withholding tax
In a major loss for the Australian Taxation Office, a High Court majority has found an agreement between US soft drink giant PepsiCo and Schweppes Australia to sell brands such as Pepsi and Mountain Dew in Australia was not subject to a royalty withholding tax.
Financial Services
NAB hit with $15.5M penalty for mishandling financial hardship requests
National Australia Bank and its home loan lender subsidiary have been ordered to pay a $15.5 million penalty after admitting to mishandling hundreds of customer hardship applications.
