Entering into a domestic building work contract is like getting married – if both parties do not act in good faith the ensuing divorce can be very messy. While Part 5 of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Act) establishes a statutory insurance scheme, the purpose of which is in certain situations to provide assistance to consumers of domestic building work, earlier articles by Dundas Lawyers have illustrated the pitfalls associated with trying to get out of a domestic building work marriage. [Read more…]
Claiming delay due to COVID-19? Think again.
April 29, 2020 by
In the current pandemic parties to legal proceedings may be tempted to apply for an adjournment or further time, citing COVID-19 as the reason for the delay. Certainly the Federal Court of Australia has been quick to respond to the pandemic by changing its procedures and has even conducted entire trials using Microsoft Teams. This article discusses the circumstances where COVID-19 has been used as justification for a delay in proceeding and the Court’s view on granting stays for this reason. [Read more…]
Evidence from the Wayback Machine
April 29, 2020 by
The utility of evidence relating to the existence of websites on the internet and their contents sourced from the Wayback Machine is increasingly being considered by Australian Courts. The question is whether or not the Courts will accept reports from the Wayback Machine in practice and if so what will they allow? [Read more…]
Building disputes and arbitration clauses
April 22, 2020 by
Building dispute litigation before a Court or tribunal, like any other form of commercial litigation, can be a stressful, time-consuming and costly process. Commercial building contracts commonly include alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration, as an option to formal litigation in anticipation it will more efficiently resolve any dispute. [Read more…]
Particulars – their importance in civil litigation
April 15, 2020 by
In civil litigation, the term ‘particulars’ is frequently used. The term particulars stems from the ordinary meaning of the noun, ‘particular,’ that being, ‘a detail’. Despite this rather simple meaning, what exactly a particular is seems to be a subject of some confusion even amongst the legal profession. This confusion is likely caused by the blurred line between pleaded facts and particulars. [Read more…]
$750k damages for fake online reviews
March 30, 2020 by
The recent case of Cheng v Lok [2020] SASC 14 (Cheng v Lok) should serve as a warning about the potential severe consequences of posting fake reviews out of spite or to harm a competitor. This was clear in the recent case of Cheng v Lok [2020] SASC 14 where the Supreme Court of South Australia awarded $A750,000 in damages to a lawyer whose business was defamed through fake and negative online. [Read more…]
Aussie Court orders Google to unmask reviewer
March 18, 2020 by
Online reviews are crucial to most business’ online presence. While some reviewers openly share their identity along with their comments, many choose to remain anonymous. In the case of false, misleading or defamatory online reviews, this can create a host of issues for businesses seeking to remove the review or commence legal proceedings against a reviewer. This was evident in the recent case of Kabbabe v Google LLC [2020] FCA 126. [Read more…]
What happens if you betray a Scotsman?
February 9, 2020 by
Fans of the movie 1995 movie “Braveheart” starring Mel Gibson would be aware of the savage brutality of the ‘Guardian of the Realm’, Sir William Wallace in seeking vengeance from his oppressors and those who ‘broke their promise‘ to support him in battle. [Read more…]
Compilations from the public domain – confidential or not?
December 20, 2019 by
In the case of Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd v Link 2 Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 180 (Ezystay) it was held that the plaintiff’s business manuals were confidential despite having been compiled from the documents in “public domain”. On Appeal, the Court had to re-visit the test for confidential information to determine whether or not the respondents’ software, business manuals and other documents collated from the public domain were in fact capable of being protected as confidential information.
Shareholder oppression – valuation issues
December 11, 2019 by
Shareholder oppression or minority shareholder oppression can occur when the majority (shareholder(s)) in an entity misuse their majority to oppress or control the minority shareholders. There are is not a limited number or combination of activities which the majority may engage in to oppress the minority, sometimes referred to as “sharp practice” or “board room tactics”, the possibilities are almost infinite. [Read more…]
