The announcement by lawyers Levitt Robinson to withdraw the class action case against Aveo Group, who paid the law firm $11 million to bring the long-running case to a close, still has to go before the Federal Court for approval.

Levitt Robinson agreed to a public statement, signed by Senior Partner Stewart Levitt (pictured), which concedes the Aveo Way contract scheme is lawful and that the Federal Court was likely to rule that Aveo has done nothing underhand.

With the legal bill for a class action is likely to swallow up most of, or all of, the $11 million, it is possible for the Federal Court to rule that the residents and/or their families deserve something more than an expression of regret.

The court is also likely not to be pleased with Levitt Robinson. When lawyers commence litigation, they are required to sign a certificate that the claim has merit.