Hamilton v Meta Platforms, Inc. [2023] FCA 1148

Federal Court of Australia

Hamilton v Meta Platforms, Inc. [2023] FCA 1148 File number: NSD 899 of 2020

Judgment of: CHEESEMAN J

Date of judgment: 29 September 2023

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application to permanently stay proceedings under s 23 of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) or r 1.23 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – where the representative applicant is self-represented – where the representative applicant is also the executive director and sole shareholder of the litigation funder – where the representative applicant is a legal practitioner but is not acting as a solicitor in the proceeding – where the representative applicant has financial interests in the outcome of the proceeding separate to his claims as a representative applicant – whether a permanent stay is required to prevent the administration of justice from being brought into disrepute – Held: application granted.

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 22, 23, 33N, 33ZE Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 1.32, 10.43(4)(c)

Cases cited: Akai Pty Ltd v People's Insurance Co Ltd [1996] HCA 39; 188 CLR 418 Asirifi-Otchere v Swann Insurance (Aust) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 1355 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 Yellow Page Marketing BV [2010] FCA 1218 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) [2006] HCA 27; 226 CLR 256 Bolitho v Banksia Securities Ltd (No 4) [2014] VSC 582 Brady v NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited atf the MLC Super Fund [2021] FCA 999 BHP Group Limited v Impiombatao [2022] HCA 33 Campbells Cash and Carry Pty Limited v Fostif Pty Limited [2006] HCA 41; 229 CLR 386 Chen v Monash University [2016] FCAFC 66; 244 FCR 424 Clairs Keeley (a Firm) v Treacy (2004) 29 WAR 479 Clurname Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [No 1] [2015] FCA 153 Clyne v NSW Bar Association [1960] HCA 40;104 CLR 186 Dyczynski v Gibson [2020] FCAFC 120; 280 FCR 583 Epic Games, Inc v Apple [2021] FCAFC 122: 286 FCR 105 Giannarelli v Wraith [1988] HCA 52; 165 CLR 543 Hamilton v Meta Platforms, Inc (Service out of Jurisdiction) [2022] FCA 681 Jago v District Court (NSW) [1989] HCA 46; 168 CLR 23 Kayler-Thomson v Colonial First State Investments Limited (No 2) [2021] FCA 854 Kelly v Willmott Forests (No. 4) [2016] FCA 323; 335 ALR 439 Magic Menu Systems Pty Ltd v AFA Facilitation Pty Ltd [1997] FCA 9; 72 FCR 261 Myers v Elman [1940] AC 282 NPP Australia Limited v Ripple Labs, Inc [2020] FCA 1237 Parkin v Boral [2022] FCAFC 47; 291 FCR 116 Paschke v Secretary, Department of Social Services [2023] FCAFC 143 Perera v Getswift Ltd [2018] FCAFC 202; 263 FCR 92 PNJ v The Queen [2009] HCA 6; 83 ALJR 384 QGC Pty Ltd v Bygrave [2010] FCA 659; 186 FCR 376 Ridgeway v The Queen [1995] HCA 66; 184 CLR 19 Rogers v The Queen [1994] HCA 42; 181 CLR 251 Timbercorp Finance Ltd (in liq) v Collins and Tomes [2015] VSC 461 Timbercorp Finance Ltd (In Liq) v Collins and Tomes [2016] VSCA 128 Timbercorp Finance Ltd (In Liq) v Collins and Tomes [2016] HCA 44; 259 CLR 212 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507 UBS AG v Tyne as trustee of the Argot Trust [2018] HCA 45; 265 CLR 77 Wigmans v AMP Limited [2021] HCA 7; 270 CLR 623 Williams v Spautz [1992] HCA 34; 174 CLR 509 Wilkinson v Wilson Security Pty Ltd [2022] FCA 756 Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd v Lunt [2021] HCA 11; 271 CLR 132