Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care Australia Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 581

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care Australia Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 581

PRACTICE and PROCEDURE – application seeking further discovery of documents in the possession of the parent company and related entities of the respondent outside Australia – whether documents sought are relevant – likely existence of documents – likelihood that parent company and related entities outside Australia would comply with request by the respondent for documents sought for discovery – whether hardship or oppression on respondent Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 23 Burgundy Royale Investments Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (unreported, Federal Court of Australia, Foster J, 21 February 1990) cited Sabre Corporation Pty Ltd v Russ Kalvin's Hair Care Company (1993) 46 FCR 428 followed F Hoffmann La-Roche A G v Chiron Corporation (2000) 171 ALR 295 referred to Unilever PLC v Chefaro Proprietaries Ltd [1994] FSR 135 referred to Molnlycke v Procter & Gamble (No 5) [1994] RPC 49 cited Aetna Pacific Security Ltd v HongKong Bank of Australia Ltd (unreported , Supreme Court of New South Wales, Giles J, 29 April 1993) referred to GAMBRO PTY LIMITED and GAMBRO LUNDIA AB v FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED NG 474 of 1997 TAMBERLIN J SYDNEY 10 MAY 2002

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NG 474 OF 1997

BETWEEN: GAMBRO PTY LIMITED

(ACN 001 288 491)

FIRST APPLICANT

GAMBRO LUNDIA AB

SECOND APPLICANT

AND: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 067 557 877)

RESPONDENT

FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED

(ACN 067 557 877)

CROSS-CLAIMANT

GAMBRO PTY LIMITED

FIRST CROSS RESPONDENT

GAMBRO LUNDIA AB

SECOND CROSS-RESPONDENT