Litigation

Liquidators of defunct investment firm Keystone Asset Management have won expanded freezing orders to cover property up to $158 million in the name of developer Robert Filippini and family members.

Proval Renewables has filed a lawsuit against renewables company May Brothers Holdings, seeking to hold it to an agreement to make commission payments of $4.5 million on a $50 million solar project.

A theme park manufacturer contracted by Dreamworld to undertake $5 million in works has won a challenge to an adjudicator’s decision that found a payment claim was invalid because the company didn't have a building licence.

Martinus Rail has won its fight against grain supply chain Co-operative Bulk Handling over a $23 million payment claim for building a rail siding in WA, with a judge finding that the deadline for responding to the claim began running from a Saturday.

The director of collapsed builder Shangri-La Construction wants to expand his defence in a suit over allegedly flammable cladding installed in a Melbourne building to argue a funding agreement with an owners corporation was not valid because nearly a quarter of owners abstained or voted against it.

A construction company has lost its bid to appeal a VCAT decision determining a $1.4 million dispute against it because of its conduct in the case, with an appeals court rejecting its “narrow and technical” reading of the tribunal’s powers.

The liquidator of a company created to invest in an Adelaide building has failed in a High Court bid to reinstate a finding that the mortgage over the property was an unreasonable director-related transaction.

Defunct telecommunications company Jabiru Satellite can add new claims to its suit against major banks for withdrawing support for Australia’s first satellite, but it can't put on a case that the lenders were “shadow” directors.

Developer Belmore 88 has successfully opposed discovery sought by HWL Ebsworth, after arguing its former solicitor was on a “fishing expedition” in a case by investors who claim they are both liable for lost money in connection with developments in western Sydney. 

Construction company Mossop has lost an appeal of a decision for concreter Contek, with an appeals court upholding a judgment accounting for all payment claims in the case, even those subject to agreement before trial.