B & J Hudghton Investments Pty Ltd as trustee for the B & J Hudghton Family Trust v Lakeba Group Limited [2022] NSWSC 830

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: B & J Hudghton Investments Pty Ltd as trustee for the B & J Hudghton Family Trust v Lakeba Group Limited [2022] NSWSC 830 Hearing dates: 20 June 2022 Date of orders: 24 June 2022 Decision date: 20 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Rees J Decision: Orders made for preliminary discovery. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – preliminary discovery – principles at [18]-[23] – plaintiffs invest in defendant corporation – plaintiffs consider financial information provided when investing may be misleading –plaintiffs seek defendant's records to determine whether to commence proceedings – whether plaintiffs already have sufficient information to commence proceedings – whether preliminary discovery oppressive – preliminary discovery ordered – scope of discovery limited to documents directly relevant to decision whether to commence proceedings. Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rule 5.3, 21.3 Cases Cited: Andrews Advertising Pty Ltd v David Andrews [2011] NSWSC 244 Arisocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd [2018] FCA 1511 C7 Pty Ltd v FOXTEL Management Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1864 Glezer v Deals.com.au [2014] VSC 202 Hatfield v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 69; (2010) 77 NSWLR 506 Howell v Kelly [2021] NSWSC 1422 Kevin Young v The Neil Jenman Group Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 1908 Morton v Nylex Ltd [2007] NSWSC 562 O'Connor v O'Connor [2018] NSWCA 214 Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals v Samsung Bioepis AU Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 1428 Rinehart v Rinehart [2015] NSWSC 1201 The New South Wales Solicitors Mutual Indemnity Fund v The Hancock Family Memorial Foundation Ltd (No 2) [2009] WASCA 146 Western Bulk Carriers (Australia) Pty Ltd v Cosco Bulk Carrier Co Ltd [2002] FCA 1520 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: B & J Hudghton Investments Pty Ltd as trustee for the B & J Hudghton Family Trust (First Plaintiff) Cerretti Consulting Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) Richez Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff) Lakeba Group Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Burnett (Plaintiffs) Mr P Strickland (Defendant)