Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (ACN 007 656 555) (No 5) [2004] FCA 1262

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (ACN 007 656 555) (No 5) [2004] FCA 1262 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – pleadings – strike out – res judicata – issue estoppel – pleadings of fact inconsistent with previous judgment between same parties – repleading to allege judgment obtained by fraud – criteria for setting aside judgment obtained by fraud – whether fresh evidence – allegation of mistaken pleading in previous litigation based on misreading of transaction document – alleged knowing failure by respondent to disclose error – whether fresh evidence not reasonably capable of discovery at or prior to previous proceedings – claim to set aside judgment for fraud unsustainable – other aspects of pleading embarrassing – statement of claim struck out with leave to replead Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Federal Court Rules O 35 r 7(2) Spalla v St George Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 513 cited Spalla and Others v St George Wholesale Pty Ltd (1999) 95 FCR 359 cited Wentworth v Rogers (No 5) (1986) 6 NSWLR 535 applied Monroe Schneider Associates (Inc) v No 1 Raberem Pty Ltd (No 2) (1992) 37 FCR 234 applied Magarditch v Australian and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1999) 17 ACLC 1275 cited Pembroke School Incorporated v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission [2002] FCA 1020 cited Owens Bank Ltd v Bracco [1992] 2 AC 443 cited DM Gordon QC, 'Fraud or New Evidence as Grounds for Actions to Set Aside Judgments (1961) 77 LQR 358 ANTHONY PATRICK SPALLA, ANDREW DAVID BENTLEY STILL and IRLMOND PTY LTD (RECEIVERS AND MANAGERS APPOINTED IN LIQUIDATION) (ACN 066 314 870) v ST GEORGE MOTOR FINANCE LTD (ACN 007 656 555), ST GEORGE WHOLESALE FINANCE PTY LTD (ACN 001 834 886), ANDREW WILLIAM BECK, ANDREW STEWART HOME, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT COMMISSION and SIMON ALEXANDER WALLACE-SMITH V3203 of 2002 FRENCH J 28 SEPTEMBER 2004 PERTH