Gill v Ethicon Sarl (No 11) [2023] FCA 229

Federal Court of Australia

Gill v Ethicon Sàrl (No 11) [2023] FCA 229 File numbers: NSD 1590 of 2012 NSD 310 of 2021

Judgment of: LEE J

Date of judgment: 16 March 2023

Catchwords: REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS – application for settlement approval pursuant to s 33V of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) (FCA Act) – novel tender process conducted for appointment of scheme administrator – consideration of Court's supervisory and protective role in representative proceedings – need to administer settlement schemes in accordance with overarching purpose – appointment of referee to conduct tender process – dismissal of applications for intervention by tenderers for settlement distribution scheme

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Pt IVA, Pt VB, ss 37M(1), 37P(2), 33V, 33V(1) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) Div 28.6

Cases cited: Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) (No 3) [2017] FCA 330; (2017) 343 ALR 476 Dorajay Pty Ltd v Aristocrat Leisure Limited [2009] FCA 19 Downie v Spiral Foods Pty Ltd (Ruling No 2) [2016] VSC 675 Gill v Ethicon Sàrl (No 10) [2023] FCA 228 HFPS Pty Limited (Trustee) v Tamaya Resources Limited (in Liq) (No 3) [2017] FCA 650 Matthews v AusNet Electricity Services Pty Ltd (Ruling No 40) [2015] VSC 131 Perera v GetSwift Ltd [2018] FCA 732; (2018) 263 FCR 1 Petersen Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland Limited (No 3) [2018] FCA 1842; (2018) 132 ACSR 258 Rowe v Ausnet Electricity Services Pty Ltd (No 9) [2016] VSC 731