Danthanarayana v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 552

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Danthanarayana v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 552 Citation: Danthanarayana v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 552

Parties: WAJIRA DANTHANARAYANA and NIRVANA CONSULTING PTY LTD (ACN 141 797 355) v COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, BRETT LAWRENCE BILLETT, MARGARET ANNE SYKES IN HER CAPACITY AS THE EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE ROBERT JOHN SYKES, MARK ANDREW WALES, MICHAEL JOHN POPE, ANNE MARION BROWN, PETER JOHN SINFIELD and FRANCIS XAVIER ROBERTS

File number: ACD 74 of 2011

Judge: FOSTER J

Date of judgment: 28 May 2014

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether the applicants' current Statement of Claim adequately pleads causes of action in tort for conspiracy, for misfeasance in public office and for negligence – whether the applicants have a sufficient and proper basis upon which to allege conspiracy and misfeasance in public office – Statement of Claim defective and fatally flawed – Statement of Claim struck out – further consideration to be given to the applicants' case in negligence – all other causes of action summarily dismissed

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 31A Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 52, s 82 Federal Court Rules 2011, rr 16.21(1)(c), (d) and (e), 26.01(1)(a), (b) and (c)

Cases cited: Cox v Journeaux (No 2) (1935) 52 CLR 713 applied HMS Truculent: The Admiralty v The Divina (Owners) [1951] 2 All ER 968 cited McKernan v Fraser (1931) 46 CLR 343 applied Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307 applied Polar Aviation Pty Ltd v Civil Aviation Safety Authority (2012) 203 FCR 325 applied Rajski v Bainton (1990) 22 NSWLR 125 followed Shammas v Canberra Institute of Technology [2014] FCA 71 cited Spencer v Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118 applied Three Rivers District Council v Governor and Company of the Bank of England (No 3) [2003] 2 AC 1 cited Western Australia v Watson [1990] WAR 248 cited