Colombini v De Berigny [2021] NSWSC 374

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Colombini v De Berigny [2021] NSWSC 374 Hearing dates: 31 March 2021 Date of orders: 16 April 2021 Decision date: 16 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the first defendant's notice of motion filed on 15 February 2021 (the Summary Dismissal Application) with costs. 2. Give leave pursuant to s 64 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) for the plaintiff to file the amended statement of claim and amended defence to cross-claim, the subject of the plaintiff's notice of motion filed on 3 March 2021; and give leave pursuant to r 6.24 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) for the plaintiff to join National Australia Bank Ltd as the second defendant to the proceedings. 3. With the consent of the plaintiff, order the plaintiff to pay the first defendant's costs thrown away by reason of the amendment to the statement of claim; but otherwise order the first defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the Amendment Application. 4. Direct the plaintiff/cross-defendant to file the amended statement of claim and amended defence to cross-claim by 20 April 2021. 5. Dismiss with costs the first defendant's notice of motion filed on 19 February 2021 (the Defendant's Subpoena Application). 6. Grant the plaintiff access to the documents produced on the subpoenas and notice to produce the subject of the Defendant's Subpoena Application, save in respect of documents produced by Abetz Curtis over which legal professional privilege is claimed by the first defendant. 7. Direct that, if the first defendant seeks to maintain a claim for legal professional privilege over any documents produced on subpoena by Abetz Curtis, then the first defendant file and serve within 14 days of these orders an affidavit listing the documents over which privilege is claimed and the facts and circumstances by reference to which privilege is claimed, so that any dispute as to the claim of privilege can be determined. 8. Set aside the subpoenas filed by the first defendant on 4 March 2021 and addressed to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, without prejudice to the first defendant's ability to seek leave to issue more narrowly confined subpoenas addressed to the particular issues in dispute in the proceedings. 9. Order the first defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the Plaintiff's Subpoena Application. 10. List the matter for directions before me on 11 May 2021 at 8.30am. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Summary disposal CIVIL PROCEDURE – Originating process – Amendment CIVIL PROCEDURE – Subpoenas – Whether legitimate forensic purpose or impermissible fishing expedition – claim for privilege Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 58, 64 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 118 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 6.24, 13.4, 33.4 Practice Note SC Eq 11 Cases Cited: ACN 074 971 109 v The National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Ltd [2010] VSC 186 Alister v R (1983) 50 ALR 41; [1984] HCA 85 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Associated Dominions Assurance Society Pty Ltd v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1952) 72 WN (NSW) 250 Attorney-General (NSW) v Chidgey (2008) 182 A Crim R 536; [2008] NSWCCA 65 Banque Commerciale SA (in Liq) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd v Gordian Runoff Ltd [2008] NSWCA 243 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Caason Investments Pty Ltd v Cao (2015) 236 FCR 322; [2015] FCAFC 94 CBX2 Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank [2015] NSWSC 943 Cosco Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1997) 37 ATR 432; [1997] FCA 1504 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62; [1949] HCA 1 Farmwide Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia [2016] ACTSC 17 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 GR Capital Group Pty Ltd v Xinfeng Australia International Investment Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 266 Gunns Ltd v Marr [2005] VSC 251 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 HFPS Pty Ltd (Trustee) v Tamaya Resources Ltd (in Liq) (No 2) [2016] FCA 446 Horton v Jones (No 2) (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 305 ICAP Australia Pty Ltd v BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 307 ICAP Pty Ltd v Moebes [2009] NSWSC 306 Ingot Capital Investments Pty Ltd v Macquarie Equity Capital Investments Ltd [2004] NSWSC 1136 Ingot Capital Investments Pty Ltd v Macquarie Equity Capital Market Ltd (2008) 73 NSWLR 653; [2008] NSWCA 206 John Alexander's Clubs Pty Ltd v White City Tennis Club Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 1; [2010] HCA 19 Jonesco v Beard [1930] AC 298 Lake Cumbeline Pty Ltd v Effem Foods Pty Ltd (t/as Uncle Ben's of Australia) (1994) 126 ALR 58 Lowery v Insurance Australia Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 320; [2015] NSWCA 303 McGuirk v University of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1424 Meckiff v Simpson [1968] VR 62 Mitanis v Pioneer Concrete (Vic) Pty Ltd (1997) ATPR 41-591 Ng v Cheng [2019] NSWSC 280 Nicholls v Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd [2010] NSWCA 100 Northam v Favelle Favco Holdings Pty Ltd (Supreme Court (NSW), Bryson J, 7 March 1995, unrep) Portal Software International Pty Ltd v Bodsworth [2005] NSWSC 1115 R v Saleam (1989) 16 NSWLR 14 Research in Motion Ltd v Samsung Electronics Australia Pty Ltd (2009) 176 FCR 66; [2009] FCA 320 Rinehart v Rinehart [2018] NSWSC 1102 Shelton v National Roads and Motorist Association Ltd (2004) ACSR 278; [2004] FCA 1393 Tamaya Resources Ltd (in Liq) v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (a Firm) [2015] FCA 1098 Trade Practices Commission v Arnotts Ltd (No 2) (1989) 88 ALR 90 at 103; [1989] FCA 340 Wavetrain Systems AS v Next Generation Rail Technologies SL [2019] FCA 350; (2019) 369 ALR 120 White v Overland [2001] FCA 1333 White v Tulloch (1995) 127 FLR 105; 19 Fam LR 696 Wride v Schulze [2004] FCAFC 216 Young v Tieco International (1995) 182 LSJS 367 Texts Cited: Practice Note SC Eq 11 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Alessandro Colombini (Plaintiff) Caitilin de Berigny (First Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A di Francesco (Plaintiff) C de Berigny (Self-represented First Defendant) Solicitors: NJ Papallo Lawyers (Plaintiff) File Number(s): 2020/00285303 Publication restriction: Nil