BT Australasia Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales & Anor (No 13) [1998] FCA 1229

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA EVIDENCE – client legal privilege – whether privilege lost by threatening or instituting proceedings said to be an abuse of the process of the Court – whether prima facie case of abuse of process made out. Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 119, 125 Federal Court Rules, O 15, r 11. Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674, cited. Varawa v Howard Smith & Co Ltd (1910) 10 CLR 382, cited. Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Kearney (1985) 158 CLR 500, applied. Carter v Northmore Hale Davey & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121, cited. Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501, applied. Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509, applied. Emanuele v Hedley [1998] 709 FCA (19 June 1998, FC), discussed. Re Moage Ltd (in liq); Sheahan v Pitterino [1998] 183 FCA (9 March 1998, Mansfield J), cited. White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart [1998] 806 FCA (14 July 1998, Goldberg J), cited. Goldsmith v Sperrings Ltd [1977] 1 WLR 478, followed. BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD V STATE OF NSW AND TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED NG 572 OF 1995

JUDGMENT NO 13 SACKVILLE J

SYDNEY 29 SEPTEMBER 1998

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY ng 572 of 1995

BETWEEN: BT AUSTRALASIA PTY Limited

Applicant

AND: state of new south wales

first Respondent

telstra corporation lIMITED

second respondent

BETWEEN: STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES

CROSS CLAIMANT TO FIRST CROSS CLAIM AND: BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LIMITED

FIRST CROSS RESPONDENT TO FIRST CROSS CLAIM

BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC

SECOND CROSS RESPONDENT TO FIRST CROSS CLAIM

BETWEEN: BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LIMITED

CROSS CLAIMANT TO SECOND CROSS CLAIM