Hamilton v Meta Platforms, Inc (Service out of Jurisdiction) [2022] FCA 681

Federal Court of Australia

Hamilton v Meta Platforms, Inc (Service out of Jurisdiction) [2022] FCA 681 File number: NSD 899 of 2020

Judgment of: CHEESEMAN J

Date of judgment: 10 June 2022

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – service – ex parte interlocutory application to serve respondents in the United States of America pursuant to rr 10.42, 10.43(2) and 10.44(1) of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – where proceedings are representative proceedings which include claims for relief in respect of alleged contravention of provisions in Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) – whether applicant has satisfied the elements of rr 10.43(3) and 10.44(2) of the Rules – whether leave should be granted – Held: leave to serve out of jurisdiction granted. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application in respect of respondents in the United States of America for substituted service by email under r 10.24 of the Rules – where no evidence filed as to practicality of service being effected in accordance with the Rules – whether substituted service orders should be made – Held: application for substituted service dismissed.

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 4, 5(1)(g), 45AC, 45AD, 45AK, 45(1)(b), 45(1)(c), 45(3), 80, 82(1), 82(4), 86(1), 87(1), 138B, 163A(1), 163A(3A) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 75, 144(1)(a) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 21, 22, 33V Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), rr 1.34, 10.23, 10.24, 10.43(2), 10.43(3), 10.43(4), 10.44(1), 10.45, 10.48

Cases cited: ACN 117 641 004 Pty Ltd (in liq) formerly Vale Pty Ltd) v S&P Global, Inc [2020] FCA 1745 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v April International Marketing Services Australia Pty Ltd (No 6) [2010] FCA 704; 270 ALR 504 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Facebook, Inc [2021] FCA 244 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yellow Page Marketing BV [2010] FCA 1218 Australian Information Commission v Facebook Inc [2020] FCA 531; 144 ACSR 88 Bray v F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd [2003] FCAFC 153; 130 FCR 317 Century Insurance (in prov liq) v New Zealand Guardian Trust Ltd [1996] FCA 376 Commissioner of Taxation v Caratti (No 2) [2018] FCA 1500 Epic Games v Apple Inc [2021] FCAFC 122; 286 FCR 105 Epic Games, Inc v Google LLC (Service Out of Jurisdiction) [2021] FCA 666 Facebook Inc v Australian Information Commissioner [2022] FCAFC 9 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Zeitouni [2013] FCA 1011; 306 ALR 603 Ho v Akai Pty Ltd (in liq) [2006] FCAFC 159; 247 FCR 205 Humane Society International Inc v Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd [2006] FCAFC 116; 154 FCR 425 Israel Discount Bank Limited v ACN 078 272 867 Pty Ltd (in liq) (formerly Advance Finances Pty Ltd) [2019] FCAFC 90; 367 ALR 71 Jasmin Solar Pty Ltd v Trina Solar Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 1453; 331 ALR 108 Kosmos Capital Pty Ltd v Turiya Ventures LLC [2019] FCA 528 NPP Australia Limited v Ripple Labs, Inc [2020] FCA 1237 Ross v Cotter [2015] FCA 310 Sanum Investments Limited v ST Group Co Ltd (No 2) [2019] FCA 1047 Webster v Computer Systems Pty Ltd v Fujitsu Ltd [2007] FCA 825