David William Pallas & Julie Ann Pallas as trustees for the Pallas Family Superannuation Fund v Lendlease Corporation Ltd [2024] NSWCA 83

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: David William Pallas & Julie Ann Pallas as trustees for the Pallas Family Superannuation Fund v Lendlease Corporation Ltd [2024] NSWCA 83 Hearing dates: 29 November 2023, 15 and 20 December 2023 (further submissions) Date of orders: 17 April 2024 Decision date: 17 April 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Ward P at [127]; Gleeson JA at [138]; Leeming JA at [139]; and Stern JA at [160] Decision: Answer the separate question, stated by Ball J on 13 September 2023, pursuant to Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 28.2, in the negative. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Representative proceedings — Conduct of proceedings — Notices — Court's power to order that notice be given to group members — Proposed notice referred to intention to apply for order excluding group members who had neither opted out nor registered from receiving potential prospective settlement sum JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS — Court of Appeal — Where Full Court of Federal Court (Parkin v Boral Ltd (2022) 291 FCR 116; [2022] FCAFC 47) had held that previous decision of Court of Appeal (Wigmans v AMP Ltd (2020) 102 NSWLR 199; [2020] NSWCA 104) was "plainly wrong" — Where disagreement with that characterisation — Whether Court of Appeal should depart from Wigmans v AMP Ltd (2020) 102 NSWLR 199; [2020] NSWCA 104 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION — Context — Whether general words in statute should be read down to conform with surrounding provisions and purpose of the legislation Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 41, 306 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 155, 159, 162, 163, 173, 175, 176, 179, 183, Pt 10 Courts and Crimes Legislation Further Amendment Act 2010 (NSW) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 25, 33V, 33X, 33ZB, 33ZF Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 30.01 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 1.21, 28.2 Cases Cited: Aussie Skips Recycling Pty Ltd v Strathfield Municipal Council (2020) 103 NSWLR 834; [2020] NSWCA 292 Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334; [1999] HCA 9 BHP Group Limited v Impiombato (2021) 286 FCR 625; [2021] FCAFC 93 BHP Group Limited v Impiombato [2022] HCA 33; (2022) 96 ALJR 956 BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster; Westpac Banking Corporation v Lenthall (2019) 269 CLR 574; [2019] HCA 45 Brewster v BMW Australia Ltd [2019] NSWCA 35; (2019) 366 ALR 171 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd (2020) 279 FCR 631; [2020] FCAFC 122 Earglow Pty Ltd v Newcrest Mining Ltd (2015) 230 FCR 469; [2015] FCA 328 Endeavour River Pty Ltd v MG Responsible Entity Ltd [2019] FCA 1719 Gett v Tabet (2009) 109 NSWLR 1; [2009] NSWCA 76 Haselhurst v Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd (t/as Toyota Australia) (2020) 101 NSWLR 890; [2020] NSWCA 66 Hasler v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (2014) 87 NSWLR 609; [2014] NSWCA 266 Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd (2022) 275 CLR 24; [2022] HCA 21 ICM Agriculture Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (2009) 240 CLR 140; [2009] HCA 51 Independent Commission Against Corruption v Cunneen (2015) 256 CLR 1; [2015] HCA 14 Jarra Creek Central Packing Shed Pty Ltd v Amcor Ltd [2011] FCA 671; [2011] ATPR 42-361 Jones v Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCA 296 Kelly v Willmott Forests Ltd (in liq) (No 4) [2016] FCA 323; (2016) 335 ALR 439 Kelly v Willmott Forests Ltd (in liq) (No 5) [2017] FCA 689 Kleinwort Benson Australia Ltd v Crowl (1988) 165 CLR 71; [1988] HCA 34 Kirby v Centro Properties Ltd [2011] FCA 611; (2011) 84 ACSR 87 Kirby v Centro Properties Ltd, unreported, Federal Court of Australia, 8 February 2011 Komlotex Pty Ltd v AMP Ltd [2020] NSWSC 504 Madgwick v Kelly (2013) 212 FCR 1; [2013] FCAFC 61 Meaden v Bell Potter Securities Ltd [2011] FCA 136 Melbourne City Investments Pty Ltd v Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (2017) 252 FCR 1; [2017] FCAFC 98 Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (2002) 211 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 27 Money Max Int Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance Group Ltd (2016) 245 FCR 191; [2016] FCAFC 148 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1123 Owners of the Ship "Shin Kobe Maru" v Empire Shipping Co Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404; [1994] HCA 54 P Dawson Nominees Pty Ltd v Brookfield Multiplex Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 176 P Dawson Nominees Pty Ltd v Brookfield Multiplex Ltd (No 4) [2010] FCA 1029 Parkin v Boral Ltd (2022) 291 FCR 116; [2022] FCAFC 47 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Regent Holdings Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (2012) 36 VR 424; [2012] VSCA 221 RJE v Secretary to the Department of Justice (2008) 21 VR 526; [2008] VSCA 265 Ross v The Queen (1979) 141 CLR 432; [1979] HCA 29 Russo v Aiello (2003) 215 CLR 643; [2003] HCA 53 R v XY (2013) 84 NSWLR 363; [2013] NSWCCA 121 Takata Air Bag – Class closure and registration [2019] NSWSC 1493 Thomas v Powercor Australia Ltd (No 1) [2010] VSC 489 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507; [2015] HCA 28 Totaan v R (2022) 108 NSWLR 17; [2022] NSWCCA 75 Weimann v Allphones Retail Pty Ltd (No 3) [2009] FCA 1292 Wetdal Pty Ltd as Trustee for the BlueCo Two Superannuation Fund v Estia Health Limited [2021] FCA 475 Wigmans v AMP Ltd (2020) 102 NSWLR 199; [2020] NSWCA 104 Wigmans v AMP Ltd (2021) 270 CLR 623; [2021] HCA 7 Wilde v The Queen (1988) 164 CLR 365; [1988] HCA 6 Williams v FAI Home Security Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1771 Wong v Silkfield Pty Ltd (1999) 199 CLR 255; [1999] HCA 48 Texts Cited: Australian Law Reform Commission, Grouped Proceedings in the Federal Court (Report No 46, December 1988) Legg M, "Entrepreneurs and Figureheads – Addressing Multiple Class Actions and Conflicts of Interest" (2009) 32 University of New South Wales Law Journal 909 New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 24 November 2010 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lendlease Corporation Ltd (First Applicant) Lendlease Responsible Entity Ltd as responsible entity for Lendlease Trust (Second Applicant) David William Pallas and Julie Ann Pallas as trustees for the Pallas Family Superannuation Fund (First Respondent) Martin John Fletcher (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: E Collins SC with B Lim and B Cameron (First and Second Applicants) W Edwards KC with R May (First and Second Respondents) K Morgan SC with Z Hillman (Contradictor)