Lavigne v Garrett & Anor [2023] NSWSC 1383

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lavigne v Garrett & Anor [2023] NSWSC 1383 Hearing dates: 9 November 2023 Date of orders: 15 November 2023 Decision date: 15 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Chen J Decision: See [84]. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – discovery – application for discovery before service of lay evidence – where plaintiffs seek discovery over client documents retained by former solicitors – whether there is a risk that plaintiffs will use documents for improper purpose – application granted Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law 2004 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Goater [2016] NSWSC 710 Graphite Energy Pty Ltd v Lloyd Energy Systems Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1326 Halpin v Lumley General Insurance Ltd (2009) 78 NSWLR 265; [2009] NSWCA 372 Lavigne v Kumar [2020] NSWSC 1120 Majinski v The State of Western Australia (2013) 226 A Crim R 552; [2013] WASCA 10 R v Momodou [2005] 1 WLR 3442; [2005] EWCA Crim 177 Re Equiticop Finance Ltd; Ex parte Brock [No 2] (1992) 27 NSWLR 391 Texts Cited: Practice Note SC CL 7 Practice Note SC Eq 11 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Jason Lavigne (first plaintiff) Mia Lavigne (second plaintiff) Peter James Garrett (first defendant) Unsworth Legal Pty Limited (second defendant) Representation: Counsel: H Lenigas (plaintiffs) G Keesing (defendants)