LK Law Pty Ltd v Karas (No 3) [2023] FCA 1464

Federal Court of Australia

LK Law Pty Ltd v Karas (No 3) [2023] FCA 1464 File number(s): SAD 222 of 2021

Judgment of: O'SULLIVAN J

Date of judgment: 24 November 2023

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application by the respondents for leave to withdraw a plea – r 26.11(2) of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – whether the plea benefits the applicants – whether the plea was made in error – to what extent are the applicants prejudiced by the withdrawal of the plea – where leave granted to withdraw plea.

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 181, 182 and 183 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 135(a) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 37M and 37N Federal Court Rules (2011), rr 16.01(c), 26.11(2) Partnership Act 1891 (SA), s 2(1)(c) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 12.6(1) and (2)

Cases cited: Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; (2009) 239 CLR 175 Bailey v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1977) 136 CLR 214 Celestino v Celestino [1990] FCA 449 Chiu v Sheh [2021] NSWSC 19 Clough & Rogers v Frog (1974) 48 ALJR 481 Cropper v Smith (1884) 26 Ch D 700 Jeans v Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd [2003] FCAFC 309; 204 ALR 327 Juno Pharmaceuticals v Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc [2019] FCA 526 Karas v LK Law Pty Ltd and Ors [2023] FCAFC 15; (2023) 296 FCR 39 Khouri v National Australia Bank limited [2007] NSWSC 987 Langdale & Anor v Danby [1982] 1 WLR 1123 LK Law Pty Ltd v Karas [2022] FCA 762 Nanevski Developments Pty Ltd v Slaveski [2020] NSWSC 617 Quirk v Suncorp Portfolio Services Ltd in its capacity as trustee for the Suncorp Master Trust [2022] NSWSC 398 Rochecoust v Tasman Rope Access Pty Ltd (No 2) [2021] FCA 1161 Selvaratnam v St George (No 2) [2021] FCA 486 Sergi v Sergi [2019] NSWSC 865 Tamaya Resources Ltd (in liq) v Deloitte Touche Tomatsu [2016] FCAFC 2; (2016) 332 ALR 199 W R Carpenter Holdings Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [2008] HCA 33