British American Tobacco Australasia Limited v Taleb (No 2) [2013] FCA 34

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

British American Tobacco Australasia Limited v Taleb (No 2) [2013] FCA 34 Citation: British American Tobacco Australasia Limited v Taleb (No 2) [2013] FCA 34

Parties: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO AUSTRALASIA LIMITED (ACN 002 717 160) v KHALED AHMAD TALEB, TOM ELYAS, PHIL & ANGELA PTY LTD (ACN 120 225 603), EXPRESS PHONES PTY LTD (ACN 087 673 934), CHAHADE ALLAM, KAHTAN KANAAN, ZHI LIU and MRA PTY LTD (ACN 076 390 228)

File number: VID 644 of 2012

Judge: DODDS-STREETON J

Date of judgment: 23 January 2013

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Application to transfer proceeding from Victoria to New South Wales registry – s 48(1) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) –respondent resident in New South Wales – asserted prejudice, including travel and legal costs –whether specific evidence of prejudice – delay in making transfer application not satisfactorily explained – applicant's legal team and some witnesses based in Victoria – Victorian judge already familiar with matter - forthcoming summary judgment application – transfer would result in delay and duplication of work – no sound reason to transfer proceeding

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 37M, 48(1) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), r 2.02

Cases cited: British American Tobacco Australasia Limited v Taleb (No 1) [2012] FCA 1065 cited Essential Beauty Franchising Pty Ltd v Essential Beauty (Qld) Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 12 cited Lamb v Hog's Breath Co Pty Ltd (No 1) [2007] FCA 49 considered National Mutual Holdings Pty Ltd v Sentry Corporation (1988) 19 FCR 155 considered