Financial Services
Ratings house faces ASIC investigation over Keystone fund
ASIC has confirmed it is investigating at least one ratings house which said Keystone’s failed Shield Master Fund was of 'investment grade', as the corporate watchdog seeks to claw back $480 million in investor funds.
ASIC
ASIC head Joe Longo to depart at end of term
Australian Securities and Investments Commission chair Joe Longo will hang up his badge after his term as the head of the corporate cop ends in eight months.
Trials
Class action against Murray Darling Authority can tweak case mid-trial
A class action alleging negligent management by the Murray Darling Basin Authority can amend their case four weeks into trial, with a judge finding the late application was not the result of a “deliberate forensic decision”.
Class Actions
Maurice Blackburn mulls expanding group in Hyundai, Kia class actions
Maurice Blackburn has proposed expanding the group definition in class actions against Hyundai and Kia over allegedly defective anti-lock braking systems after winning a carriage fight against a proceeding that included additional recalls in its group membership.
Class Actions
Doctors in cosmetic surgery class action can’t strike out accessorial liability claims
Four doctors named in a class action over cosmetic surgeries performed at Daniel Lanzer’s clinic in Sydney can't dodge claims they are liable as accessories for alleged misleading social media ads.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
Telegram wins more time to prep appeal of $1M eSafety fine
Encrypted messaging app Telegram has won its bid to delay the hearing of its challenge to a $1 million fine from the eSafety Commissioner, after complaining about a "document dump" from the regulator.
Financial Services
ASIC in hotseat over inaction against ANZ execs after $240M settlement
ASIC's chair was grilled by members of parliament on Thursday over whether the regulator would take action against individuals within ANZ, after the bank agreed to pay $240 million in penalties for "widespread misconduct".
Competition & Consumer Protection
Employment Hero denies misusing Seek’s data to launch rival job list
Human resources company Employment Hero, which has accused Seek of abusing its dominance by cutting access to its platform, has rejected claims in the hiring giant's defence of misuse of candidate data.
Defamation
Brittany Higgins appeals $315,000 judgment in Reynolds defamation case
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins is appealing a finding that she defamed Linda Reynolds in social media posts that implied the former Defence minister mishandled her rape allegations against ex-colleague Bruce Lehrmann.
Defamation
Higgins’ husband must pay $700K over ‘indefensible’ social media posts
The husband of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has been ordered to pay over $700,000 in damages and costs to former senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts found to have defamed the politician.
