Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Emerald Ocean Distributors Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 401

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Emerald Ocean Distributors Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 401

PROCEDURE – cross-claim – whether cross-claim should be tried with claim in action or separately with leave to cross-respondent to play limited role in trial of claim – whether exceptional circumstances supporting separate trials – whether separate trials would give rise to over-lapping issues, repetition of evidence and possibility of inconsistent findings Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 22 Federal Court Rules O 5 r 1(2), O 5 r 1(3), O 5 r 8(1), O 5 r 9(2), O 5 r 12, O5 r 12(2) New World Oil & Developments Pty Limited v 163 Clarence Street Pty Limited (Black CJ, Jenkinson and Gummow JJ, 6 March 1995, unreported) followed Barclays Bank v Tom [1923] 1 KB 221 considered Standen v GH Varley Pty Ltd [1956] SR(NSW) 346 approved AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v EMERALD OCEAN DISTRIBUTORS PTY LTD, SLENDERTONE HEALTH AND BEAUTY PTY LTD and SEAN O'DONOGHUE W118 of 2000 RD NICHOLSON J 8 APRIL 2002 PERTH

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRLIA DISTRICT REGISTRY W118 of 2000

BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

APPLICANT

AND: EMERALD OCEAN DISTRIBUTORS PTY LTD (ACN 074 316 304)

FIRST RESPONDENT

SLENDERTONE HEALTH AND BEAUTY PTY LTD (ACN 059 362 542)

SECOND RESPONDENT

SEAN O'DONOGHUE

THIRD RESPONDENT

EMERALD OCEAN DISTRIBUTORS PTY LTD (ACN 074 316 304)

FIRST CROSS-CLAIMANT

SLENDERTONE HEALTH AND BEAUTY PTY LTD (ACN 059 362 542)

SECOND CROSS-CLAIMANT

SEAN O'DONOGHUE