Class Actions
Robodebt class action settles a second time for record $548.5M
A class action over the Morrison government’s Robodebt scheme has settled for $548.5 million, the largest class action settlement in Australia’s history, on the back of damning revelations in a royal commission report released after the class action originally settled for $112 million.
Class Actions
Judge questions delay in distribution of $73M Crown class action settlement
A judge has questioned why group members in a shareholder class action against Crown Resorts must wait until mid-2026 to receive the first slice of a $73 million settlement, which has already been paid by the casino operator.
Real Estate
Adina owes Trenerry’s West End $2.3M for terminating Melbourne hotel lease
A judge has ordered Adina West Melbourne to pay $2.3 million to Trenerry's West End LandCo, including $1 million in unpaid rent, despite finding COVID-19 lockdowns were a force majeure event under the lease.
Article
Court slashes law firm’s contingency fee in Hino class action
A judge has hacked Maurice Blackburn’s promised cut of an $87 million settlement in a class action against Hino Motors, saying the 24.66 per cent group costs order previously approved by the court would result in a “disproportionate return” to the firm.
Class Actions
‘This should not be done again’: Judge slams complex Coles, Woolworths trial
A judge has criticised the “unacceptably complex” trial of two regulatory cases and two underpayments class actions against Coles and Woolworths, delivering a ruling whose significance for the workers is not yet clear.
Social Media
Meta loses strike-out bid against ACCC’s crypto ads case
Meta has lost its latest bid to strike out the consumer regulator’s case alleging it failed to put up “reasonable safeguards” to prevent scam cryptocurrency ads on its Facebook platform.
Intellectual Property
High Court to weigh in on honest concurrent use in Zip, Firstmac TM spat
The High Court is poised to provide guidance on the defence of honest concurrent use in trade mark disputes, agreeing to hear an appeal by buy now, pay later giant Zip Co in its fight with Firstmac over the 'Zip' trade mark.
Defamation
High Court won’t hear Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation appeal
Australia’s most-decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has lost his bid for special leave from the High Court to appeal a judge’s findings that he committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
Class Actions
CBA class actions sent back for possible pursuit of ‘no transaction’ claims
Two failed shareholder class actions against Commonwealth Bank have been returned to a judge to decide if 'no transaction' claims can still be pursued, a move CBA argues is a way to keep alive cases that are “truly dead”.
Cryptocurrency
ASIC gets High Court’s attention in case against crypto firm Block Earner
The corporate regulator has won the High Court's leave to challenge a ruling for cryptocurrency firm Block Earner that it argues will allow future crypto products to evade the rules.
