Spalla v St George Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 416

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Spalla v St George Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 416 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – disqualification for apprehended bias – allegation that certain rulings and statements made by the trial judge taken together evidenced bias – application of "fair-minded lay observer" test – no grounds for disqualification

Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2001) 205 CLR 337 applied Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488 applied Antoun v The Queen [2006] HCA 2 referred to ANTHONY PATRICK SPALLA 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, DELIOTTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, SIMON ALEXANDER WALLACE SMITH, ST GEORGE MOTOR WHOLESALE PTY LTD (ACN 007 664 217), GUISEPPE MICHELE RAMBALDI and IRLMOND PTY LTD ACN 066 314 870 (RECEIVERS AND MANAGER APPOINTED) (IN LIQUIDATION) VID 631 OF 2005 KENNY J 18 APRIL 2006 MELBOURNE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY VID 631 OF 2005

BETWEEN: ANTHONY PATRICK SPALLA

APPLICANT

AND: ST GEORGE MOTOR FINANCE LTD

(ACN 007 656 555)

FIRST RESPONDENT

ST GEORGE WHOLESALE FINANCE PTY LTD

(ACN 001 834 886)

SECOND RESPONDENT

ANDREW WILLIAM BECK

THIRD RESPONDENT

ANDREW STEWART HOME

FOURTH RESPONDENT

DELIOTTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU

FIFTH RESPONDENT

AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

SIXTH RESPONDENT

SIMON ALEXANDER WALLACE SMITH

SEVENTH RESPONDENT

ST GEORGE MOTOR WHOLESALE PTY LTD (007 664 217)

EIGHTH RESPONDENT