Saridas v Papuan Oil Search Ltd (No 4) [2023] NSWSC 1190

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Saridas v Papuan Oil Search Ltd (No 4) [2023] NSWSC 1190 Hearing dates: 6 October 2023 Date of orders: 10 October 2023 Decision date: 10 October 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt AJ Decision: 1) Oil Search's motion is dismissed. 2) Unless the parties approach to be heard about costs within 7 days, Oil Search must bear Ms Saridas' costs of the motion, as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – pleadings – particulars – order sought dismissing or striking out parts of statement of claim pursued by a claimed whistle blower – compensation sought for alleged detrimental conduct involving disparaging false information communicated after termination of employment in claimed breach of a deed – abuse of process – orders refused EVIDENCE – admissibility of evidence – hearsay – advance ruling sought in relation to affidavit and outlines of evidence subpoenaed witnesses are expected to give – evidence not to be led to prove truth of representations –– advance ruling refused Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 56 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 1317AD, 1317ADA, 1317AE, Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 55, 59, 60, 64, 192A Treasury Laws (Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Bill 2018 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 13.4, 14.28 Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552; [2000] HCA 41 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v BlueScope Steel Limited (No 3) [2021] FCA 114 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (2006) 226 CLR 256; [2006] HCA 27 Bayne v Baillieu (1908) 6 CLR 382; [1909] HCA 39 Bott v Carter [2012] NSWCA 89 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Gerace v Auzhair Supplies Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 181 Li, Wing Cheong v R [2010] NSWCCA 40 Palmer-Bruyn and Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons [2001] HCA 69; 208 CLR 388 Pollitt v The Queen [1992] HCA 35; (1992) 174 CLR 558 Saridas v Papuan Oil Search Ltd [2022] NSWSC 825 Saridas v Papuan Oil Search Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1032 Saridas v Papuan Oil Search Ltd (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 1515 Sidebottom v Cureton (1937) 54 WN (NSW) 88 Spencer v The Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 Sydney Attractions Group Pty Ltd v Schulman [2012] NSWSC 951 The Owners – Strata Plan No 90189 v Parkview Constructions Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1382 TKWJ v The Queen [2002] HCA 46; (2002) 212 CLR 124 Walton v The Queen [1989] HCA 9; (1988-1989) CLR 283 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aynet Saridas (Plaintiff) Papuan Oil Search Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Leopold (Plaintiff) Mr D P M O'Dowd (Plaintiff) Mr I Neil SC (Defendant) Mr B Rauf (Defendant)