Ghee v BT Funds Management Limited [2023] FCA 1553

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Ghee v BT Funds Management Limited [2023] FCA 1553 File number(s): VID 962 of 2019

Judgment of: MURPHY J

Date of judgment: 7 December 2023

Catchwords: REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS – application for Court approval of a proposed settlement under s 33V(1) of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) – whether the proposed settlement is fair and reasonable in the interests of group members to be bound to it including as between group members – power to make a common fund order under s 33V(2) – exercise of the discretion to make a common fund order – relevance of after the event insurance to the assessment of a reasonable litigation funding charges - whether proposed litigation funding charges are reasonable and proportionate – proposed settlement approved.

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 33C, 33V, 33ZF, 54A Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth)

Cases cited: Asirifi-Otchere v Swann Insurance (Aust) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] FCA 1885; 385 ALR 625 1 Bellamy's Australia Ltd v Basil [2019] FCAFC 147; 372 ALR 638 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd v Pekell Delaire Holdings Pty Ltd [2017] VSCA 51; 118 ACSR 592 Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (in liq) (No 3) [2017] FCA 330 BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster [2019] HCA 45; 269 CLR 574 Bolitho v Banksia Securities Ltd (No 18) (remitter) [2021] VSC 666 Bradgate (Trustee) v Ashley Services Group Ltd (No 2) [2019] FCA 1210 Bradshaw v BSA Limited (No 2) [2022] FCA 1440 Brewster v BMW Australia Ltd [2020] NSWCA 272 Caason Investments Pty Ltd v Cao (No 2) [2018] FCA 527 Caason Investments Pty Ltd v International Litigation Partners No.3 Ltd [2018] FCAFC 176 ( Camilleri v Trust Company (Nominees) Ltd [2015] FCA 1468 Clarke v Sandhurst Trustees Ltd (No 2) [2018] FCA 511 Court v Spotless Group Holdings Limited [2020] FCA 1730 DA Lynch v Star Entertainment Group; Drake v Star Entertainment Group; Huang v Star Entertainment Group; Jowene v Star Entertainment Group [2023] VSC 561 Darwalla Milling Co Ltd v F Hoffman-La Roche (No 2) [2006] FCA 1388; 236 ALR 322 Davaria Pty Ltd v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 183; 281 FCR 501 Dyczynski v Gibson [2020] FCAFC 120; 280 FCR 583 Earglow Pty Ltd v Newcrest Mining Limited [2016] FCA 1433 Eckardt v Sims Ltd [2022] FCA 1609 Elliot-Carde v McDonald's Australia Limited [2023] FCAFC 162 Endeavour River Pty Ltd v MG Responsible Entity Limited [2019] FCA 1719 Evans v Davantage Group Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 70 Fordham v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2023] FCA 1106 Kelly v Willmott Forests Ltd (in liquidation) (No 4) [2016] FCA 323; 335 ALR 439 Kemp v Westpac (No 4) [2023) FCA 830 Klemweb Nominees Pty Ltd (as trustee for the Klemweb Superannuation Fund) v BHP Group Limited [2019] FCAFC 107; 369 ALR 583 Kuterba v Sirtex Medical Limited (No 3) [2019] FCA 1374 Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd v S&P Global Inc [2018] FCA 379 Matthews v SPI Electricity Pty Ltd (Ruling No 13) [2013] VSC 17; 39 VR 255 Money Max Int Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance Group Ltd [2016] FCAFC 148; 245 FCR at [50] (Murphy, Gleeson and Beach JJ): Parkin v Boral Ltd (Class Closure) [2022] FCAFC 47; 291 FCR 116 Perera v GetSwift Limited [2018] FCA 732; 263 FCR 1 Perera v GetSwift Ltd [2018] FCAFC 202; (2018) 263 FCR 92 Petersen Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland Ltd (No 3) [2018] FCA 1842; (2019) 132 ACSR 258 Sanda v PTTEP Australasia (Ashmore Cartier) Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 143 Tredrea v KPMG Financial Advisory Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 871 Uren v RMBL Investments Ltd & Anor (No 2) [2020] FCA 647 Webb v GetSwift Limited (No 7) [2023] FCA 90 Webster (Trustee) v Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Co. Limited (No 4) [2020] FCA 1053 Wetdal Pty Ltd as Trustee for the BlueCo Two Superannuation Fund v Estia Health Limited [2021] FCA 475 Williamson v Sydney Olympic Park Authority [2022] NSWSC 1618 Winterford v Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 1199