Jarrett v Westpac Banking Corp [1999] FCA 425

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Jarrett v Westpac Banking Corp [1999] FCA 425 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – adjournment of hearing – solicitors for party ceasing to act shortly before hearing – litigants in person request adjournment to engage other solicitors or to prepare to represent themselves – discretion to grant adjournment of hearing – requirements of justice for unrepresented litigants – whether discretion properly exercised. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – three factually related proceedings to be heard together – adjournment of hearing of one claim – whether two related claims should proceed – discretion to order that proceedings be heard separately – relevant considerations – whether discretion properly exercised. Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 51AA House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499 applied Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170 applied State of Queensland v J L Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 146 considered Sali v SPC Ltd (1993) 116 ALR 625 considered Hunter v Webb (Federal Court, Sheppard J, unreported, 19 July 1996) considered Titan v Babic (1994) 49 FCR 546 considered Morton v Vouris (Federal Court, Sackville J, unreported, 18 September 1996) cited Wentworth v Rogers (No. 5) (1986) 6 NSWLR 534 cited Rajski v Scitec Corporation (New South Wales Court of Appeal, unreported, 16 June 1986) cited

JARRETT v WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION NG 829 OF 1998

HEEREY, CARR & MANSFIELD JJ SYDNEY 16 APRIL 1999

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NG 829 OF 1998

BETWEEN: GLENN ROBERT JARRETT

First Appellant

DEBORAH ALISON JARRETT

Second Appellant

AND: WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION

Respondent

JUDGES: HEEREY, CARR & MANSFIELD JJ