In the matter of Austral Bronze Pty Limited;; In the matter of John Darlington Pty Limited;; In the matter of John Darlington Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 1491

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Austral Bronze Pty Limited;; In the matter of John Darlington Pty Limited;; In the matter of John Darlington Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 1491 Hearing dates: 28 July 2020 Date of orders: 26 October 2020 Decision date: 26 October 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Corporations List Before: Rees J Decision: Claim for privilege upheld in typed file notes and initial instruction sheet; privilege waived in handwritten file note. Catchwords: PRIVILEGE – client legal privilege – waiver – principles at [13]-[17] – employees suffering dust diseases seek legal advice – solicitor makes notes of communications – solicitor later refers to communications in affidavit – notice to produce – redacted file notes produced – production of part of note does not waive privilege in whole document unless unfairness arises. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 601AH Corporations Act 1989 (NSW), s 509 Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 (NSW), s 12B Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 15B Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers Act 2017 (NSW), ss 4, 5 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 122(2), 122(3) Cases Cited: Archer Capital 4A Pty Ltd as trustee for the Archer Capital Trust 4A v Sage Group plc (No 2) (2013) 306 ALR 384; [2013] FCA 1098 Bailey v Department of Land and Water Conservation (2009) 74 NSWLR 333; [2009] NSWCA 100 Cantor v Audi Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 1391 DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v Intertan Inc (2003) 127 FCR 499; [2003] FCA 384 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) [1999] HCA 67; (1999) 201 CLR 49 Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Limited v Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited [2013] HCA 46; (2013) 250 CLR 303 Great Atlantic Insurance Co v Home Insurance Co [1981] 1 WLR 529; [1981] 2 All ER 485 Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Moore (t/as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) [2016] NSWCA 305; (2016) 339 ALR 635 In the matter of Viscount Caravans Pty Limited (ex tempore), 8 May 2020 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 66 R v Derby Magistrates' Court; Ex parte B [1995] 4 All ER 526; [1996] AC 487 The Daniels Corp International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2002] HCA 49; (2002) 213 CLR 543 Category: Principal judgment Parties: In proceedings 2020/86229: Kathleen Comerford (Plaintiff) Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Defendant)