Paul Graham Unicomb v Gregory Scott Blais [2024] NSWSC 903

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Paul Graham Unicomb v Gregory Scott Blais [2024] NSWSC 903 Hearing dates: 28 May 2024 Date of orders: 25 July 2024 Decision date: 25 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: McGrath J Decision: Declaration that affidavits made in earlier proceedings not subject to implied obligation not to use them for any purpose other than that for which they were given (see [296]) Catchwords: EVIDENCE — PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — affidavit evidence — Harman undertaking — implied obligation — affidavits filed and served but not read in previous proceedings — where plaintiffs seek to use relevant affidavits in present proceedings — application of implied obligation to affidavits prepared and filed pursuant to court-ordered timetable — consideration of statement of principle in Hearne v Street and subsequent interpretation — where requisite element of compulsion absent — HELD — affidavits not subject to implied obligation but if they were then release would be granted Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 43, 122 Cases Cited: Bourns Inc v Raychem Corp [1999] 1 All ER 908 Bourns Inc v Raychem Corp [1999] 3 All ER 154 Businessworld Computers Pty Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1988) 82 ALR 499 Central Queensland Cement Pty Ltd v Hardy [1989] 2 Qd R 509 Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 39 Crest Homes Plc v Marks [1987] AC 829 CSR Ltd v Eddy (2005) 226 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 64 The Queen, on the application of Davey v Silverstein [2020] VSCA 233 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Plowman (1995) 183 CLR 10; [1995] HCA 19 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Frigger v Trenfield (No 5) [2020] FCA 827 Gwynvill Properties Pty Ltd v UTSG Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 208 Harman v Secretary of State for Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Hasler v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd; Curtis v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd; Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Almad (2014) 87 NSWLR 609; [2014] NSWCA 266 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125; [2008] HCA 36 Helicopter Aerial Surveys Pty Ltd v Garry Robertson [2015] NSWSC 2104 Holpitt Pty Ltd v Varimu Pty Ltd (1991) 29 FCR 576; [1991] FCA 354 Johnston v Allen [2024] NSWSC 187 Leagou Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [2020] FCA 1162 Liberty Funding Pty Ltd v Phoenix Capital Ltd (2005) 218 ALR 283; [2005] FCAFC 3 Medway v Doublelock Ltd [1978] 1 WLR 710; [1978] All ER 1261 Re Addstone Pty Ltd (in liq); Ex parte Macks (1998) 30 ACSR 156 Riddick v Thames Board Mills Ltd [1977] QB 881 Sinnott v Chief of Defence Force [2020] FCA 643 Springfield Nominees Pty Ltd v Bridgeland Securities Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 217; [1992] FCA 720 State Bank of South Australia v Smoothdale (No 2) Ltd (1997) 64 SASR 224 Stokes v Toyne [2021] NSWSC 1049 T & F.S. Woods Pty Ltd v Woods [2021] FCA 1220 Verde Terra Pty Ltd v Central Coast Council; Central Coast Council v Verde Terra Pty Ltd (No 7) [2020] NSWLEC 140Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Fountain Page Ltd [1991] 1 WLR 756; [1991] 3 All ER 878 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Graham Unicomb (First Plaintiff/Applicant) HG InvestCorp Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff/Applicant) GHT Holdings Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff/Applicant)