Litigation

Two witnesses in a trial over $19.5 million in funds allegedly misappropriated in a land development joint venture will be cross-examined again after a judge recused himself from the trial after eight hearing days. 

Property developer Villawood has asked a judge to allow it to share documents from a fraud case against its former director with the Australian Federal Police, over alleged actions the judge called “deeply troubling”. 

Hotel manager Ennismore has argued a notice by the owners of The Olympia hotel in Paddington terminating a management agreement is invalid and wants the dispute sent to arbitration.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration wants to make submissions in a High Court challenge to an arbitration ruling in a dispute with Esso over Bass Strait hydrocarbon royalties.

A company incorporated to manage a development in regional Victoria has lost its bid to withdraw admissions in a case by property developer Villawood alleging a former director engaged in a fraudulent scheme to divert management fees.

The co-owner of Pacific Werribee shopping centre's has defended an engineering expert's decision to stray from an agreed model in drafting a report for trial in a $356 million defects case, even as the court warns it may not get a "second bite of the cherry".

A developer can't block an activist group from relying on Aboriginal cultural heritage evidence in relation to trees set to be removed under plans to build a retirement village on land owned by the Federal Golf Club.

Japan-based Optimus has sued Grant Thornton for allegedly giving negligent restructuring advice following its acquisition of dealership group Autopact, which resulted in the company owing $3 million in stamp duty, income tax and other costs.

Vietnamese airline VietJet has lost its appeal against the registration of a $254 million judgment in a dispute over payments for the leasing of Airbus A321 passenger jets.

Fortescue Metals has brought a cross-appeal in a dispute with the Yinjibarndi people of Western Australia's Pilbara region over the company's Solomon Hub iron ore project.