McNickle v Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd (Assessors) [2021] FCA 780

Federal Court of Australia

McNickle v Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd (Assessors) [2021] FCA 780 File number: VID 243 of 2020

Judgment of: LEE J

Date of judgment: 25 June 2021

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – assessors – class action concerning the alleged carcinogenic effects of Roundup – no referee appointed – expert evidence to be adduced in ordinary way – appointment of an assessor – consideration of the history of assessors and other aids to determination of technical issues – power to appoint an assessor – consideration of the scope and function of an assessor

Legislation: Constitution Ch III Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 23, 33ZF Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 9.21 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 83 Patents Act 1990 (Cth) s 217 Supreme Court Act 1986 (Vic) s 77

Cases cited: BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster [2019] HCA 45; (2019) 374 ALR 627 Britax Childcare Pty Ltd v Infa-Secure Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 1018 Carlewie Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services [2018] NSWCA 181; (2018) 98 NSWLR 233 CPB Contractors Pty Ltd v Celsus Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] FCA 2112; (2018) 268 FCR 590 F Hoffmann-La Roche AG v New England Biolabs Inc [1999] FCA 1424; (1999) 47 IPR 105 Genetic Institute Inc v Kirin-Amgen Inc (No 2) (1997) 78 FCR 368 Harris v Caladine (1990) 172 CLR 84 Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612 Matthews v SPI Electricity (Ruling No 32) [2013] VSC 630 McNickle v Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd (Expert Evidence) [2021] FCA 370 Owners of S.S. Australia v Owners of Cargo of S.S. Nautilus [1927] AC 145 Pelechowski v Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) (1999) 198 CLR 435 Re Rumney and Wood (1541) Seldon Society, Vol 6, pp 102–4 Richardson v Redpath, Brown & Co Ltd [1944] AC 62 Southport Corporation v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1953] 3 WLR 773 The "Clan Lamont" (1948) 79 Ll. L. Rep. 521 The "Magna Charta" (1871) 1 Asp. M. L. C. 153 (PC)