Tobacco lawyers face investigation by legal regulators

By Bill Birnbauer

AUSTRALIA, April 25, 2002 — The behavior of Clayton Utz and Mallesons Stephen Jaques lawyers in advising Australia's biggest tobacco company

Excerpts from this story referencing "Clayton Utz":

"… ation. The company was appealing the finding. …"

"… eoffrey Eames this week found that one of Australia’s leading law firms, Clayton Utz, and British American Tobacco Australia Services had subverted court proce …"

"… to deny lung cancer sufferer Rolah McCabe a fair trial. He also found that Clayton Utz and the company had destroyed thousands of internal records to that they w …"

"… would not have to be produced in health-related court cases.He criticized Clayton Utz partners including Richard Travers and Brian Wilson. He said Robyn Chalmer …"

Clayton Utz faces inquiries in destroying documents

By Bill Birnbauer

Leading Australian law firm, Clayton Utz, faces at least two inquiries about its involvement in destroying thous

Excerpts from this story referencing "Clayton Utz":

"… was appealing the Supreme Court’s findings. …"

"… eceptive or unconscionable conduct in breach of the Trade Practices Act by Clayton Utz and British American Tobacco Australia Services. “The commission regards …"

"… intended to mislead or deceive,” Professor Fels said.Senior lawyers from Clayton Utz and another big law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques also face inquiries by l …"

"… reme Court judge Justice Geoffrey Eames found that by destroying documents Clayton Utz, and British American Tobacco Australia Services had subverted court proce …"

Smoker awarded $700,000 after evidence was destroyed

These stories first appeared in The Age on April 12-13, 2002. They are reposted here with permission.

Excerpts from this story referencing "Clayton Utz":

"… ey Eames said British American Tobacco Australia Services and its lawyers, Clayton Utz, destroyed the documents so that they would not have to be produced in hea …"

"… ormation as to what was destroyed,” he said.Documents were warehoused by Clayton Utz and held offshore on behalf of the firm. Evidence was given during the hea …"

"… ce Eames says the company’s instructing solicitor, Richard Travers, from Clayton Utz, and Robyn Chalmers, chairman of the board of Mallesons Stephen Jaques, we …"

"… n order to gain an advantage for the company. Ms. Chalmers was retained by Clayton Utz to do the discovery of documents in Mrs. McCabe’s case. Under the court …"

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The smoking gun: A perspective

By Bill Birnbauer

Yesterday a court awarded Melbourne grandmother Rolah Ann McCabe $700,000 in damages after she sued one of the world's lead

Excerpts from this story referencing "Clayton Utz":

"… raordinary was the charge that two of Melbourne’s blue-chip legal firms, Clayton Utz and Mallesons Stephen Jacques, had helped.Such breaches of the rules – p …"

"… . It is almost breathtaking in its audacity.”BATAS, through its lawyers, Clayton Utz, argued that there was nothing sinister about the document policy and deni …"

"… y evidence of selective culling of documents ahead of impending litigation.Clayton Utz warned that striking out the defense would be an “extreme remedy” with …"

"… e who heard the strike-out application, Justice Geoffrey Eames, found that Clayton Utz had misled both Slater & Gordon and himself in correspondence on the d …"

How the spin doctors talked up tobacco as thousands died

By Bill Birnbauer

AUSTRALIA, April 25, 2002 — Cigarette companies knew as early as the 1950s that they would need a healthy image to protect their profits. So

Excerpts from this story referencing "Clayton Utz":

"… es found that British American Tobacco Australia Services and its lawyers, Clayton Utz, had destroyed thousands of documents since the mid-1980s as part of a str …"