Two Great Southern class action claims against Bendigo and Adelaide Bank fell through last week.
Law firm DC Legal discontinued its class action against the bank on Friday, two weeks after it launched its claim in the Federal Court of Sydney. This followed the striking out of a separate class action by Macpherson + Kelley two days before, although the law firm claimed it had gathered extra information and was set to launch another claim.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank managing director Mike Hirst said the bank had been vindicated twice in one week. However, he stated that he was concerned following news of Macpherson + Kelley’s possible new claim, which borrowers would be asked to fund.
“The time has come for borrowers to consider whether they should continue to expose themselves to compound and penalty interest by not bringing their loans up to date,” he said.
Macpherson + Kelley had until November 23 to lodge its second class action, but in the meantime has been ordered to pay Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s legal costs relating to the first failed statement of claim, the bank stated, adding that DC Legal had been ordered to pay the bank’s costs relating to its withdrawn claim on a full indemnity basis.
