$4 Billion Therium-Funded Google Class Action Sees Light of Day in UK Court of Appeal
After being tossed out by the High Court, the $4 billion Therium-funded Google class action has reached the UK Court of Appeals. The lead applicant, Richard Lloyd – a former consumer rights organization director – is claiming Google owes 4.4 million Brits hundreds of pounds each for its nefarious ‘Safari Workaround’ software, which was allegedly used to spy on iPhone users.
Domino’s Could Be on the Hook for AUD $100MM in Therium-Funded Class Action
Law firm Phi Finney McDonald and litigation funder Therium Capital Management are filing a class action which alleges that Domino’s underpaid delivery drivers and in-store workers. Estimates put the total claim amount around AUD $100MM.
Defrauded Investor Hires Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to Help Enforce $6 Billion Award Against a Member of Qatar’s Ruling Family
DOHA, Qatar, July 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The Swifthold Foundation, which was defrauded by Sheikh Fahad Bin Ahmad bin Mohamed Bin Thani and his Qatari company, Fast Trading Group, today announced that it has hired Akin Gump, the international law firm, to help advise and obtain finality through enforcement of the Qatari court’s acknowledgment of the UK High Court judgment. The representation will be led by Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senior Advisor, Member of Congress (Ret) and former Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
UK-Based AI Firm Aims to Predict Case Outcomes for Litigation Funders
Anyone involved in litigation would love to have a crystal ball to help predict how things will pan out. If one UK-based startup is to be believed, that crystal ball may already exist.
Concern About Defendant Insolvency in Harbour-Funded New Zealand Class Action
Law firm Adina Thorn is bringing a class action – funded by Harbour Litigation Funding – on behalf of homeowners who experienced damage to their properties due to leaky cladding installed by the James Hardie multi-national conglomerate. The James Hardie parent company is based in Ireland, and attempting to exclude it and all international subsidiaries from liability, leaving the New Zealand subsidiary as the sole defendant. However, Thorn claims the New Zealand subsidiary is insolvent, and that the parent company should therefore be on the hook.
Australian Funders and Law Firms Are Mulling Preemptive Class Actions in the Name of Climate Change
With climate change rapidly growing into a mainstream global issue, questions abound whether law firms and funders can and should join forces to launch anticipatory class actions or mass torts regarding the issue. Examples would be environmental toxic torts or claims alleging corporate damage to the Great Barrier Reef. Yet despite the urgent need, these types of actions are difficult to get off the ground.
Top Judge Recommends London Establish Special Fund to Tackle UK’s ‘Access to Justice’ Problem
Lady Justice Hallett, vice president of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, is warning against the erosion of the UKs legal climate thanks to concerns over ‘Access to Justice.’ Speaking at the Bar Council’s 125th anniversary, Hallett – the bar’s first female chair – urged the formation of a fund to tackle legal aid, and cited the success of litigation funders as proof that such a measure is indeed viable.
Regulatory Pressure Mounts Against the Funding Industry
As usage of both consumer and commercial litigation funding grows widespread, the race to regulate these distinct yet overlapping industries is on. Some states have already enacted legislation aimed at curbing – or outright eliminating – third party funding, and State Attorney Generals have begun their own assault against the practice.
Scotland’s Only Indie Funder Scores Big Win
Restitution, Ltd., Scotland’s first and only independent litigation funder, scored a commercial claims win for a businesswoman in a case that never would have made it to court but for litigation funding.
Kirkland & Ellis Launches Contingency-Only Plaintiff-Side Practice
Kirkland & Ellis – the nation’s largest law firm by gross revenue – has announced plans to expand its contingency-fee practice with the launch of a division that focuses on the high risk/reward fee arrangement. Kirkland has represented over 100 plaintiff-side cases on a pure contingency basis over the past decade, and now seeks to expand that number by as much as 10x.
