Dillon v RBS Group (Australia) Pty Limited [2017] FCA 896

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Dillon v RBS Group (Australia) Pty Limited [2017] FCA 896 File number: NSD 1016 of 2014

Judge: LEE J

Date of judgment: 8 August 2017

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – heterodox nature of 'interim' or 'interlocutory' declarations and consideration of when declarations can made other than at a final hearing – requirement of utility and extant justiciable controversy – declaratory relief refused PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Part IVA representative proceedings – consumer class action – Merck orders concerning initial trial – accelerated adjudication of sample group member claim, common issues and 'issues of commonality' – the nature of a 'claim' within the meaning of s 33C of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) and principled approach to composition of group membership –flexibility of Part IVA case management powers and relationship with the overarching purpose – determination of issues that do not arise on the claim of the representative applicant without the creation of sub-groups

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 33C, 33C(1), 33C(1)(c), 33C(2)(a)(i), 33D, 33H, 33J, 33K, 33N, 33Q, 33R, 33S, 33T, 33W, 33X, 33ZA, 33ZB, 33ZC, 33ZC(1), 33ZE, 33ZF, 37M(3), 37P, 43(1A) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), rr 8.01, 8.05(b), 9.32, Schedule 1 Civil Procedure Act 2010 (Vic), ss 7, 9, 9(1)(c), 91(1)(d)

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Giraffe World Australia Pty Limited [1998] FCA 819; (1998) 84 FCR 512 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 56; (2012) 201 FCR 378 AED Oil Ltd v Puffin FPSO Ltd [2010] VSCA 37; (2010) 27 VR 22 Allphones Retail Ltd v Weimann [2009] FCAFC 135 Banque Commerciale SA En Liquidation v Akhil Holdings Ltd [1990] HCA 11; (1990) 169 CLR 279 Clarke v Chadburn [1985] 1 WLR 78 Dorojay Pty Ltd v Aristocrat Leisure Limited (Federal Court of Australia, Proceedings No NSD 362 of 2004 Earglow Pty Limited v Newcrest Mining Limited [2015] FCA 328; (2015) 230 FCR 469 International General Electric Co of New York v Customs and Excise Commissioners [1962] Ch 784 Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Pty Ltd [2003] VSC 27; (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-692 Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2001] VSC 372 Kamasaee v Commonwealth of Australia (No 10) [2017] VSC 272 King v GIO Australia Holdings Limited [2000] FCA 617; (2000) 100 FCR 209 Kinsella v Gold Coast Council [2014] QSC 65; [2015] 1 Qd R 274 Kirby v Centro Properties Ltd (Federal Court of Australia, Proceedings No. VID 326 of 2008 Matthews v SPI Electricity Pty Ltd (Ruling 5) [2012] VSC 66; (2012) 35 VR 615 Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd v Peterson [2009] FCAFC 26 Peterson v Merck Sharpe & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 5) (2010) 87 IPR 234 Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd v Nixon [2000] FCA 229; (2000) 170 ALR 487 Re Estate of R D Firns [2001] NSWSC 184 Rodriguez & Sons Pty Ltd v Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority [No 5] [2015] NSWSC 1771 Sutherland v Take Seven Group Pty Ltd [1998] NSWSC 538; (1998) 29 ACSR 201 Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Collins; Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Tomes [2016] HCA 44; (2016) 91 ALJR 37 Warramunda Village Inc v Pryde [2002] FCA 250; (2002) 116 FCR 58 Grave D, Adams K and Betts J, Class Actions in Australia (2nd ed, Thomson Reuters, 2012) Heydon JD, Leeming M and Turner PA, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity, Doctrines & Remedies (5th ed, Butterworths, 2014)