King v AG Australia Holdings Ltd (formerly GIO Australia Holdings Ltd)[2002] FCA 1560

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

King v AG Australia Holdings Ltd (formerly GIO Australia Holdings Ltd)

[2002] FCA 1560 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Group proceedings – whether a respondent in group proceedings can communicate with unrepresented members of the group – whether a respondent in group proceedings can communicate with represented members of the group – form of communication – whether copies of replies to communication should be distributed to all parties – where purpose of communication is to obtain understanding of unrepresented group members' position. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Group proceedings – whether there is power under s 33ZF of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) to permanently stay individual claims within a group proceeding – whether an order for a permanent stay should be made as a matter of discretion – where permanent stay operates as a sanction for failure to respond to communication. Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 33ZE, 33ZF, Part VIA King v AG Australia Holdings Ltd (formerly GIO Australia Holdings Ltd) [2002] FCA 872, (2002) 191 ALR 697 discussed McMullin v ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd (1998) 84 FCR 1 discussed Hurley v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2001] FCA 209 not followed Courtney v Medtel Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 957 followed Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Giraffe World Australia Pty Ltd (1998) 84 FCR 512 referred to Finance Sector Union of Australia v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (1999) 94 FCR 179 referred to King v GIO Australia Holdings (2000) 100 FCR 209 cited Bunnings Forest Products Pty Ltd v Bullen (1994) 54 FCR 342 cited SHANE ROBERT KING v AG AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED (FORMERLY GIO AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LTD) (ACN 054 573 401), GRANT SAMUEL & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD (ACN 050 036 372), DAVID MORTIMER, BRUCE HOGAN, STEWART STEFFEY, RONALD ASHTON, MARINA DARLING, ANDREW KALDOR, LLOYD LANCE, DAVID O'HALLORAN AND IAN POLLARD N 955 OF 1999