UNITED STATES – The Multistate Antitrust Task Force of the National Association of Attorney Generals (“NAAG”), the non-political organization of US state attorneys general that coordinates joint multistate and federal-state investigations and litigation, has created a new committee to examine class action settlements reported to the states under the Class Action Fairness Act, and specifically to examine whether companies may be using class action settlements to avoid antitrust enforcement actions that might otherwise be brought…
Due to Australia’s plaintiff favourable class action system, the number of class actions in Australian courts is at an all time high. Recently however headwinds appear to be developing as the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform pushes for reform in the class action arena. Two reforms currently being considered by the Chamber concern introduction of a “threshold test” for plaintiffs to commence class actions in Australia and new regulatory control of litigation funding for…
In January 2013, the U.K. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published its response to its 2012 consultation on private actions in competition law. (See Response here). Final proposals, which are currently making their way through Parliament, were derived from those responses, and are very similar to those suggested in the consultation. When implemented, which seems likely, the proposals will bring about momentous changes to the U.K. private enforcement system. The proposals, as currently drafted,…