Edwards v Nine Network Australia Pty Limited (No 4) [2022] FCA 1496

Federal Court of Australia

Edwards v Nine Network Australia Pty Limited (No 4) [2022] FCA 1496 File number: NSD 129 of 2022

Judgment of: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 13 December 2022

Catchwords: PRIVILEGE – application by applicant for access to documents produced under subpoena by prospective witness and first respondent – where respondents claimed legal professional privilege – litigation privilege – where claims made in proceedings for defamation with respect to communications in text messages and emails sent after service of concerns notice, whether communications in text messages were for dominant purpose of litigation and whether emails were confidential communications whether confidentiality is a necessary element of litigation privilege under common law — where evidence of confidentiality insufficient, PRIVILEGE – waiver – whether confidentiality can be inferred — whether conduct of respondents inconsistent with maintenance of privilege

Legislation: Evidence Act ss 75, 78, 119

Cases cited: Anderson v Bank of British Columbia (1876) 2 Ch D 644 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd (2009) 174 FCR 547 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NSW Ports Operations Hold Co Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1232 Australian Federal Police Commissioner v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Buttes Oil Co. v Hammer (No. 3) [1981] QB 223 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543 DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v InterTAN Inc (2003) 135 FCR 151 Edwards v Gillespie [2020] NSWDC 475 Esso Australia Resources Limited v The Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 Hancock v Rinehart (Privilege) [2016] NSWSC 12 Harmony Shipping Co SA v Saudi Europe Line Ltd [1979] 1 WLR 1380 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 New South Wales v Jackson [2007] 34 WAR 279 Nickmar Pty Ltd v Preservatrice Skandia Insurance Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 44 Public Transport Authority of Western Australia v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd (2007) 34 WAR 279 Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of The Ritz Ltd (No 22) (1988) 14 NSWLR 132 Southern Equities Corporation Ltd v West Australian Government Holdings Ltd (1993) 10 WAR 1 State of New South Wales v Jackson [2007] NSWCA 279 Trade Practices Commission v Sterling (1978) 36 FLR 244 at 246 Ventouris v Mountain [1991] 1 WLR 607 Waugh v British Railways Board [1980] AC 521 Woollahra Municipal Council v Westpac Banking Corporation (1994) 33 NSWLR 529 Heydon JD, Cross on Evidence (13th ed, LexisNexis, 2021)