Stay on top of updates and developments around key cases across various global jurisdictions.

What happens when two women using similar names both want to sell branded clothing lines in the same country? When that name is Katy or Katie Perry, the result is a trademark infringement suit.

This week, a hearing was held to determine whether a collective action against five car carriers based in Japan, Sweden, and Chile. The action will allege that more than 17 million cars were impacted by a price-fixing scheme run by the five firms that ship internationally. The case is being funded by Woodsford Litigation Funding.

As difficult as it might be to imagine someone being misled by a Tinder communique, Sean Rad, a co-founder of the app, alleges that’s exactly what happened. Last week, Rad testified that Match Group (which also owns Hinge, OKCupid, and PlentyOfFish) undervalued Tinder by billions.

A Supreme Court decision was handed down in the Lloyd v Google appeal. And Google has a lot to be celebrating. In short, the question at hand was whether damages could be sought in a collective action over “loss of control over data,” without specifically listing the monetary or punitive damages of each individual claimant. Requiring individual loss statements from every claimant in a case impacting millions seems untenable. What happened here?

This week, the Supreme Court blocked a data protection claim against tech giant Google—saying that the case was doomed to failure. The court unanimously affirmed the appeal from Google.

Last week, one of the largest third-party litigation funders in the UK was placed into administration. According to a notice in the London Gazette, Affiniti has stopped taking in new business.

The Tinder trial is about to begin. One co-founder of the popular dating app is suing Barry Diller and his media holdings for an astronomical $2 billion—claiming that he was misled about Tinder’s true value.

Referencing a “large backlog,” Binance has put a temporary hold on customer withdrawals of crypto assets. The number one cryptocurrency exchange tweeted the announcement earlier this week.

More than 20 million potential claimants believe they overpaid on their homeowner’s insurance because of overt bias on a price comparison website. Augusta Ventures is backing the claim for an undisclosed percentage of any potential award.

Can a marketing rep of average financial means successfully mount a civil case against a billionaire? A few decades ago, probably not. But now that third-party legal funding is on the scene, a complex civil suit is finally reaching the trial phase after years of delays.

Patent filings are on the rise, as 38 Patent Trial and Appeal Board petitions and 71 district court filings occurred last week alone. There have also been a spate of dismissals, settlements, and district court terminations.

Several franchisees that have agreements with Priceline, a leading HBA retailer in Australia, have opted into a class action to obtain a new, fair, franchise agreement with the company. The suit alleges that current agreements may be illegal under the current legislative framework.

As thousands of small businesses await COVID-related insurance payouts, insurers maintain that their policies were never meant to cover global pandemics. Whether or not claimants get their due will depend on an upcoming appeal.

Three men from Chorley and one from Leyland are suing auto giant Mercedes over its role in “dieselgate.” Dieselgate impacted multiple car manufacturers, accusing them of using defeat devices to illegally skirt emission standards. National consumer rights firm Slater and Gordon are bringing the claim.

The Competition Appeals Tribunal has granted permission for a class action against British Telecommunications to move forward. The action could be worth as much as GBP 600 million, and asserts rampant overcharging of landline customers. The action is being funded by third-party funder Harbour Litigation Funding.

Three Warrington men are bringing a claim against German carmaker Mercedes, relating to its role in the recent dieselgate scandal. Working with lawyers from consumer rights firm Slater and Gordon, the trio expects the case to become a collective action. Slater and Gordon is also a joint lead attorney in the dieselgate action against Volkswagen.

Nearly 150,000 customers have allegedly been impacted by unscrupulous practices by Australia New Zealand Banking Group. A class action alleges that the banking behemoth failed to refund fees and pay out interest.

When a few Gillette executives left the company to set up shop on their own, Gillette was quick to file multiple complaints against the new company, Shavelogic.  

The Supreme Court of Victoria declined to allow a 25% contingency fee. The decision represents the first time the court has used its power to make a Group Cost Order—which the court determined was preferable to a “no win, no fee” arrangement.

A class action has been launched against insurer IAG after it denied business interruption claims related to COVID-19. The case has been likened to a test case in Australia.

Two men charged with pressuring hundreds of female patients into removing pelvic mesh implants—ostensibly to raise the payout in personal injury claims against device manufacturers—pled guilty to violations of the Federal Travel Act.

A recent class action against Volkswagen Group Australia has been dismissed. Costs have been awarded to the car manufacturer and will be paid by the third-party litigation funder for the plaintiffs.

A third Demark-based foundation has filed a case against TikTok media group over data they claim was harvested illegally. The suit impacted about 4.5 million Dutch users across all age demographics.

Leading legal funder Omni Bridgeway recently announced that it is funding appeals over judgments against Halifax Investment services Pty Ltd, and another Halifax entity—both currently in liquidation.

Follower Notices have been in use since 2014, and refer to a notification given to someone who has used an “avoidance scheme” that was determined to be ineffective by a case against another user. This gives taxpayers an opportunity to adjust or amend their tax filings. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issues these notices frequently, which is considered controversial for a variety of reasons.

Claimants in the Flint water crisis case have been cautioned by a judge not to seek or accept deals for a cash advance on their share of the settlement. Claimants are set to share the $641 million settlement, though the agreement has not yet been given final approval.