UK Panel on Collective Actions & Litigation Funding
London International Disputes Week recently held a discussion regarding the role of litigation funding in collective actions. As the practice of third-party funding grows in popularity and scope, those in power have been seeking to regulate it.
California Lawyer Joseph Hoats Avoids Prison Time After Perjury
Joseph Hoats, a California attorney, has been stripped of his ability to practice law following a guilty plea for perjury. He will, however, avoid prison time after lying to a judge about his knowledge of a lawsuit filed in his name. Prosecutors sought a 15-21 month sentence for the crime.
Tech Giant Apple Embroiled in Class Action Asserting App Store Overcharges
Apple has been accused of flouting UK competition laws by overcharging UK customers for products from its app store. The London case, filed in the Competition Appeal Tribunal today, involves about 20 million customers in the UK.
Shattercane Decision Appealed
Claimants have launched an appeal in the Shattercane class action. The Queensland Supreme Court decision came down last month in the case, which involved contamination by shattercane weeds in seeds sold to produce sorghum.
India Confronts Litigation Finance
Members of the IALF Working Group met to discuss seven agenda items including filling leadership positions within the organization. Seven members attended via video, and six via Email.
Nike Counterfeit Case May Define US Court Reach Against Foreign Banks
Between 2013-2015, sportswear giant Nike won court battles against more than 600 counterfeit shoe sellers based in China. Assets were ordered frozen by a US court. While Nike did win, every counterfeiter defaulted on the judgment.
Australian High Court Rules on Competing Class Actions
Australian courts have had to adapt to the changes brought about by the increased use of litigation funding. The practice is a net gain for the community and clients who gain access to justice they could not otherwise afford. Still, some say that the availability of funding has sparked an untenable number of lawsuits—class actions in particular.
Collective Action Against James Hardie Proceeds
A funded class-action against the group of Australian building companies known as James Hardie is about to begin. Leaks in 376 buildings led to homeowners seeking damages of roughly AUD $220 million. Harbour Litigation Funding provided support for the case early on.
Judge Agrees to Oral Hearing in Possible Revival of BHP Case
BHP is, by market value, the largest mining company in the world. In 2015, the Fundao dam, owned jointly by BHP and Vale (Samarco) collapsed—killing 19 people and contaminating the Doca river, reaching all the way to the Atlantic Ocean over 400 miles away.
Battle Over Zhunus Judgement Continues
A $300 million judgment known in legal circles as “The Zhunus Judgement” is still being scrutinized by the parties involved. Harbour Litigation Funding brought several charges against Kazakhstan Kagazy JSC with relation to the judgment.
