Court clash as hold-out councils try to sink Baird’s mergers

KPMG and Paul Toole expected to take the stand.

24 May, 2016

Baird pokes the bear: Alan Jones on the warpath over council mergers

Enemies in high places.

20 April, 2016

Supreme Court forces NSW government to hand over council merger report

“Outrageous abuse of government power”: Ku-ring-gai Mayor.

19 April, 2016

NSW forced merger reports suppressed

More councils enter legal fray over mergers.

6 April, 2016

Lawyers give Brimbank councillors the green light

By Staff Writer Councillors from Brimbank have been given the green light by lawyers to proceed with a legal challenge against their sacking by the Local Government Minister, Richard Wynne, in September. According to a legal memorandum, lawyer Michael Pearce said the lawfulness of the suspension was questionable and that councillors had been denied natural […]

9 November, 2009

Councils given green light to pursue lost investments

By Angela Dorizas A ruling by the Federal Court has cleared the way for councils to pursue legal action against collapsed US investment bank Lehman Brothers. The Federal Court found against the validity of a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) put forward by the administrators PPB and Lehman Brothers Asia, which had prevented 38 councils […]

1 October, 2009

Federal Court upholds Lehman Bros appeal

By Angela Dorizas The Federal Court has upheld an appeal by the administrators of Lehman Brothers Australia to block Wingecarribee Shire Council’s access to the company’s insurance documents. The council has been involved in a legal battle with the failed bank since 2007, in an attempt to recoup losses made through investing in collateralised debt […]

26 May, 2009

Council digs for Lehman’s insurance policies

Wingecarribee Shire Council is seeking to recoup losses made from CDO investments. Image: iStock By Angela Dorizas Wingecarribee Shire Council in New South Wales has won the right to proceed with attempts to access the insurance policies of collapsed US investment bank Lehman Brothers. The council has been involved in a $2.5 million lawsuit against Lehman Brothers […]

11 May, 2009

Call for councils to sue for lost investments

By Angela Dorizas Councils that have lost funds through high-risk investments in structured instruments, including collaterised debt obligations (CDOs), may have a litigation case against financial advisers and rating agencies, says IMF. The litigation funder has agreed to back a $25 million claim by Melbourne-based clean energy company Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFCL) against “various parties” […]

9 April, 2009