Hall v Arnold Bloch Leibler (a firm) [2020] FCA 1495

Federal Court of Australia

Hall v Arnold Bloch Leibler (a firm) [2020] FCA 1495 File number: VID 1010 of 2019

Judgment of: MIDDLETON J

Date of judgment: 16 October 2020

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for inspection of discovered documents over which claims to legal professional privilege made EVIDENCE – legal professional privilege – where legal professional privilege claimed by former client – whether documents within scope of express limited waiver – implied waiver – whether former client's past conduct inconsistent with the maintenance of confidentiality – whether disclosure of document inconsistent with the maintenance of confidentiality in associated material

Cases cited: Arnold Bloch Leibler (A Firm) v Slater & Gordon Limited [2020] FCA 1496 Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd v Pacific Equity Partners Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 998 Australian Wheat Board Ltd (AWB) v Cole (No 5) (2006) 155 FCR 30 AWB Ltd v Cole (No 5) (2006) 155 FCR 30 Barnes v Commissioner of Taxation [2007] FCAFC 88 Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products Australia Pty Ltd v Auspine Ltd [2008] VSCA 59 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Commissioner of Taxation v Pratt Holdings (2005) 225 ALR 266 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Federal Cmr of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Hoy Mobile Pty Ltd v Allphones Retail Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 933 Kamasaee v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) (LPP Ruling) [2016] VSC 404 Lane v Admedus Regen Pty Limited [2016] FCA 864 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1