Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 16) [2021] FCA 584

Federal Court of Australia

Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 16) [2021] FCA 584 File numbers: NSD 1485 of 2018 NSD 1486 of 2018 NSD 1487 of 2018

Judgment of: BESANKO J

Date of judgment: 2 June 2021

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — defamation proceedings — interlocutory application for orders setting aside three subpoenas to produce documents — whether subpoenas have a legitimate forensic purpose — whether subpoenas are too wide or oppressive or constitute fishing — order that one subpoena be set aside PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — defamation proceedings — interlocutory application for order setting aside one paragraph of a notice to produce — where paragraph of notice to produce seeks covert recordings of applicant talking to various associates and referred to in newspaper article — where documents referred to in notice to produce said to be relevant to claim for aggravated damages — whether paragraph of notice to produce has a legitimate forensic purpose — notice to produce not a process for discovery of documents — notice to produce upheld insofar as it seeks recordings referred to in a newspaper article — application otherwise dismissed

Legislation: Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 24.01, 24.12, 24.15, 30.28

Cases cited: Brand v Digi-Tech (Australia) Ltd [2001] NSWSC 425 Comcare v John Holland Rail Pty Ltd (No 5) [2011] FCA 622; (2011) 195 FCR 43 Fried v National Australia Bank Ltd [2000] FCA 911; (2000) 175 ALR 194 Jack Brabham Engines Limited v Beare [2010] FCA 35 Liristis v Gadelrabb [2009] NSWSC 441 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 5) [2020] FCA 1067 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 13) [2021] FCA 549 Thomas v SMP (International) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 870 Wong v Sklavos [2014] FCAFC 120; (2014) 319 ALR 378