Coastal Service Centres Pty Limited v United Petroleum Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 1870

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Coastal Service Centres Pty Limited v United Petroleum Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 1870 Hearing dates: 14 December 2020 Date of orders: 18 December 2020 Decision date: 18 December 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Pursuant to s 192A of the Evidence Act, I find that the material exhibited to Mr Szymczak's affidavit and referred to at [44], other than the third impugned letter, is inadmissible at the final hearing (on the basis that this material is subject to the without prejudice privilege provided under s 131(1) of the Evidence Act and does not fall within the exception under s 131(2) of the Evidence Act. 2. Order the defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the motion for an advance ruling as to admissibility of evidence and the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the motion to set aside the notice to produce. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – advance ruling as to admissibility of evidence – s 192A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – whether material contained in defendant's affidavit evidence is inadmissible under s 131 of the Evidence Act – whether exception in s 131(2) applies – whether impugned material amounted to an admission – held that whether or not material amounts to an admission the rights exception in s 131(2) is not invoked – material held to be inadmissible Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 131(1), 131(2)(i), 131(5), 192A Cases Cited: Apotex Pty Ltd v Les Laboratoires Servier (No 5) (2011) 199 FCR 62 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Allphones Retail Pty Ltd (No 3) (2009) 259 ALR 541 Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Rich [2004] NSWSC 1089 Burg Design Pty Ltd v Wolki (1999) 162 ALR 639 at 646; [1999] FCA 388 First Capital Partners Pty Ltd v Sylvatech Ltd (2004) 186 FLR 266; [2004] NSWSC 846 Galafassi v Kelly (2014) 87 NSWLR 119; [2014] NSWCA 190 GPI Leisure Corp Ltd (in liq) v Yuill (1997) 42 NSWLR 225 at 226-7; Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd (2006) 151 FCR 450; [2006] FCA 343 Hera Resources Pty Ltd v Gekko Systems Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 37 ICAP Australia Pty Ltd v BGC Partners (Australia Pty Ltd) [2009] NSWCA 307 Korean Airlines Co Ltd v ACCC (No 3) (2008) 247 ALR 781 Lambert Leasing Inc v Qbe Insurance Australia Ltd [2012] NSWSC 953 Le Meilleur Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) v Jin Heung Mutual Savings Bank Co Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1115 Lexcray Pty Ltd v Northern Territory (2015) 292 FLR 447 Liu v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (2012) 84 NSWLR 547; [2012] NSWSC 1352 NA & J Investments Pty Ltd v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 [2012] NSWLEC 120 Pitcher v Langford (1991) 23 NSWLR 142 Ryder v Frohlich [2006] NSWSC 1324 Sasson & Partners Pty Ltd v Fahevu [1999] NSWCA 400 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd (2006) 151 FCR 450; [2006] FCA 343 Silver Fox Company Pty Ltd v Lenard's Pty Ltd (No 3) [2004] FCA 1570; (2004) 214 ALR 621 Sydney Attractions Group Pty Ltd v Schulman [2012] NSWSC 951 Talbot v NRMA Ltd [2000] NSWSC 602 Teoh v Greenway (2015) 297 FLR 398 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (Online version, LexisNexis Butterworths) S Odgers, Uniform Evidence Law (Lawbook Co., 2020, 15th ed.) Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Coastal Service Centres Pty Limited (Plaintiff/Applicant on motion) United Petroleum Pty Ltd (Defendant/Respondent on motion) Representation: Counsel: B Goodyear (Plaintiff/Applicant) A Harding SC (Defendant/Respondent)