CONDUCT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS – VICTORIA

Magistrate denied defendant fairness

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Original article by Steve Butcher
The Age – Page: 12 : 12-Nov-14

Supreme Court of Victoria judge Michael McDonald has found against Frankston magistrate Rodney Crisp. The latter had on the second day of court hearings in February 2014 decided that firearms-related charges against the defendant should go to a full jury trial. Colleague Franz Holzer had the previous year ruled that a summary hearing before a magistrate only would be sufficient. Crisp had noted the fact that he was the state’s longest-serving magistrate, appointed in 1985. McDonald has criticised him for dismissing several requests by defence barrister Ken Oldis to have the matter stood down

CORPORATES
FRANKSTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT, SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

Top judge: courts must prepare for class actions

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Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 11-Jul-14

There has been an increase in the number of class action suits launched in Australia, in part because of stockholders becoming emboldened by the availability of litigation funding. Victoria is one of the centres for the hearing of such law suits, and Chief Justice Marilyn Warren AC QC has noted that they benefit the local economy by close to $A1bn per annum. She argues that the courts must be equipped to hear these cases in an adequate manner. The experiences gained in the Great Southern class action have been translated into cost savings from a new paperless court room for the Kilmore East bushfire trial

CORPORATES
BENTHAM IMF LIMITED – ASX IMF, SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, GREAT SOUTHERN LIMITED, MAURICE BLACKBURN PTY LTD, HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT