Litigation

Rio Tinto unit Energy Resources has lost its privilege claim over an internal investigation into the failure of one of its wellhead systems, which is at the centre of a defects claim against equipment manufacturer Cactus Wellhead.

A judge has handed a win to a builder in a dispute with an RSL club, finding that even if an adjudicator wrongly construed a provision of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act, his decision could still stand.

Lawyers for a former partner of tax advisory firm Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills will cease to act for him in his case alleging he was sacked for complaining about client Lendlease’s “aggressive taxation position”. 

Family-owned real estate group Coronis has successfully challenged the tax office on a $5 million alleged shortfall, with a judge finding service fees paid to two companies in the group were deductible.  

United Petroleum has successfully sued the landlords of one of its petrol stations for failing to pay for repairs to potholes described as "more like large craters".

A judge has refused a late-stage bid to strike out Brisbane Airport's lawsuit against lessee AirServices Australia claiming $17.3 million in damage from PFAS contamination caused by its use of firefighting foam.

Construction and engineering firm Gradian Group is suing a company partially owned by two former employees, alleging it has stolen its equipment and is poaching clients and suppliers, including Boral.

Another fight over an $87 million mixed-use Canberra development may be on the cards, after the project's liquidators won approval to assign potential claims against WSP and builder Construction Control over alleged stitch bolt defects.

A recent High Court decision which found the federal government must compensate Indigenous people in the Northern Territory over past mining operations has significant implications for the government’s liability to pay up for historical acts affecting native title, but experts say the decision is unlikely to unleash a torrent of similar claims.

Victoria's State Revenue Office must pay the bulk of costs incurred by shopping centre landlord Vicinity in a successful challenge to $82.5 million in stamp duty slapped on land occupied by Myer and Emporium in Melbourne's city centre.