Courtney v Medtel Pty Limited [2002] FCA 957

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Courtney v Medtel Pty Limited [2002] FCA 957 REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING – whether respondents may make settlement offers directly to unrepresented group members – whether such offers should be subject to approval by applicant's solicitors – whether notice of such offers should be given in advance to applicant's solicitors – scope of the power conferred by s 33ZF(1) of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth).

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 33A, 33C, 33E, 33J, 33N, 33P, 33T, 33W, 33V, 33Z, 33ZF, 33ZJ, 43(1A) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 74B, 75AD, 82 Federal Court of Australia Amendment Act 1991 (Cth) Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1992 (Cth), s 3 Supreme Court Act 1986 (Vic), s 35 Professional Conduct and Practice Rules (NSW), r 31.1 Courtney v Medtel Pty Ltd (2001) 113 FCR 512, cited. Femcare Ltd v Bright (2000) 100 FCR 331, cited. King v AG Australia Holdings Ltd (formerly GIO Australia Holdings Ltd) [2002] FCA 872, cited. Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd v Victoria [2002] HCA 27, cited. Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia (1999) 166 ALR 731, cited. Boeing Co v Van Gemert 444 US 472 (1980), cited. Burns Philip & Co Ltd v Bhagat [1993] 1 VR 203, cited. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chats House Investments Pty Ltd (1996) 71 FCR 250, cited. Carnie v Esanda Finance Corporations Ltd (1995) 182 CLR 398, cited. Wong v Silkfield Pty Ltd (1999) 199 CLR 255, cited. Cutts v Head [1984] Ch 290, cited. Williams v FAI Home Security Pty Ltd No 4) [2000] FCA 1925, cited. West v AGC (Advances) Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 590, cited. Australian Law Reform Commission, Grouped Proceedings in the Federal Court (Report No. 46, 1988) V Morabito, "Federal Class Actions, Contingency Fees and the Rules Governing Litigation Costs" (1995) 21 Monash Uni LR 231 C Silver, "A Restitutionary Theory of Attorneys' Fees in Class Actions" (1991) 76 Cornell LR 656. KEVIN GLYNN COURTNEY in a representative capacity on behalf of the persons referred to in par 1 of the Fifth Amended Statement of Claim v MEDTEL PTY LIMITED & ANOR N 661 of 2000 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 1 AUGUST 2002