Class action settlement approval hearings are not a time for the court to second guess a law firm’s contingency fee as set down in a group costs order, a judge has found, but the question of proportionality is still key, and evidence of a firm’s return on investment and hourly fees may be relevant to the final decision.
A former human resources executive at Accenture is pushing back against an application by the consulting giant to suppress her employment case pending mediation, saying the cat is already out of the bag.
A judge has signed off on the first-ever settlement allowing a law firm to earn a contingency fee, approving a $12.8 million cut for Slater & Gordon in a shareholder class action against G8 Education.
A class action against Carnival over a COVID-19 outbreak aboard its Ruby Princess cruise ship has told the Full Court the lead applicant is entitled to damages “far in excess” of the $4,000 awarded by the trial judge for distress and disappointment.
A property developer has been ordered to pay $11.2 million to the liquidators of Plutus Payroll after a judge found he helped an employee of the defunct payroll services company “wash” money he blackmailed from the company’s directors.
Engineering and construction firm Laing O’Rourke has been ordered to pay a former employee $1.5 million in loss and damages following his dismissal over false claims he was aggressive towards Stayz hosts who complained about a late night work party.
HFW has snagged two partners specialising in litigation and restructuring and insolvency from Johnson Winter Slattery, including the firm’s litigation practice group head.
Cruise operator Carnival PLC has mounted a cross-appeal aimed at overturning a judge’s finding that it negligently failed to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship, telling the Full Court that the primary judge’s findings were not consistent with his reasons.
Barristers have welcomed as a positive step a proposal by the Australian Bar Association to require yearly discrimination and harassment training to the rules governing the professional development of members.
The law firm running class actions against ANZ and Westpac has been pulled up for claiming confidentiality over a solicitor’s affidavits on the costs incurred by the applicants since the court approved settlements in the cases.
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