Pigozzo v Mineral Resources Ltd (No 2) [2023] FCA 1489

Federal Court of Australia

Pigozzo v Mineral Resources Ltd (No 2) [2023] FCA 1489 File number: WAD 103 of 2022

Judgment of: FEUTRILL J

Date of judgment: 28 November 2023

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for leave to issue subpoenas to give evidence and produce documents returnable at an interlocutory hearing and (or) before trial – where orders made for exchange of affidavit evidence – where witness unwilling to make affidavit – whether oral evidence necessary to facilitate the just resolution of an interlocutory hearing – where pleadings not closed and statement of claim unsettled – whether issue of subpoenas to produce documents before trial premature – whether subpoenas have a legitimate forensic purpose – whether subpoenas are for non-party discovery – whether subpoenas are oppressive

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 97 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 31A(2)(b), 37M Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 20.23, 24.01, 24.11, 24.12, 24.13

Cases cited: Beecham Group Limited v Bristol Laboratories Pty Limited [1968] HCA 1; (1968) 118 CLR 618 Boston Commercial Services Pty Ltd v GE Capital Finance Australasia Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1352; (2006) 236 ALR 720 Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd v Astra Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 256; (1999) 45 IPR 144 Eng Mee Yong v Letchumanan s/o Velayutham [1980] AC 331 McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1233; (2005) 221 ALR 785 Pigozzo v Mineral Resources Ltd [2022] FCA 1166 Shercliff v Engadine Acceptance Corporation Pty Ltd [1978] 1 NSWLR 729