Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v FDRA Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 429

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v FDRA Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 429 File number: NTD 70 of 2015

Judge: WHITE J

Date of judgment: 4 April 2016

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – interlocutory applications – application for summary judgment or permanent stay of proceeding – application barring continuation of proceeding – application for striking out of pleadings – relevant factors – whether proceeding is an abuse of process or vexatious – whether pleadings disclose reasonable cause of action – no evidential basis for applications PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – interlocutory application – leave to issue a subpoena – relevant factors – documents which have apparent relevance to issues in the proceeding – documents which have legitimate forensic purpose PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – interlocutory application – leave for a corporation to proceed other than by a lawyer – factors relevant to grant of – financial capacity of corporation to fund legal representation – factual complexities of proceeding – capacity of proposed representative to conduct proceeding

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 21, 29, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, 80 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 97 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 31A, 37OP, 37AP Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 4.01, 6.02, 16, 16.21, 24.01, 26.01

Cases cited: Alister v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 404 Dandaven v Harbeth Holdings Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 955 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Compumark Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 583; (2012) 292 ALR 8 Enviro Pak Pty Ltd v New Horticulture Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 306 Fried v National Australia Bank Ltd [2000] FCA 911; (2000) 175 ALR 194 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia [2010] HCA 28; (2010) 241 CLR 118 Termi-Mesh Australia Pty Ltd v Josu Manufacturing Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1241 Wong v Sklavos [2014] FCAFC 120; (2014) 319 ALR 378