Smith v New South Wales Crime Commission (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 1486

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v New South Wales Crime Commission (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 1486 Hearing dates: 11 November 2024 Date of orders: 22 November 2024 Decision date: 22 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt AJ Decision: (1) The fourth defendant is restrained from retaining Blackbay to advise and represent her in the proceedings. (2) Unless the parties approach with short written submissions within 14 days, the fourth defendant is to bear the plaintiffs' costs of the motion, as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ORDERS – restraining defendant from retaining a solicitor– whether plaintiff previously a client of the solicitor – whether plaintiff provided solicitor with relevant confidential information – whether discretion to restrain solicitor being retained should be exercised – what the due administration of justice requires EVIDENCE – affidavit evidence – exception to the hearsay rule – second hand hearsay – proper construction of s 75 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – whether orders excluding the evidence should be made under s 135 – evidence admitted Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Crime Commission Act 2012 (NSW), ss 45, 80 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 75, 135 Cases Cited: Australian Medic-Care Co Ltd v Hamilton Pharmaceutical Pty Ltd (ACN 008 204 635) [2009] FCA 1220; (2009) 261 ALR 501 Black v Taylor [1993] 3 NZLR 403 Bray v F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (2002) 118 FCR 1; [2002] FCA 243 Bray v F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (2003) 130 FCR 317; [2003] FCAFC 153 Chen v Chu [2024] NSWSC 1139 Cleveland Investments Global Ltd v Evans [2010] NSWSC 567 D & J Constructions; Carindale Country Club Estate Pty Ltd v Astill (1993) 42 FCR 307; (1993) 115 ALR 112 Fordham v Legal Practitioners' Complaints Committee (1997) 18 WAR 467 Galvin v R [2006] NSWCCA 66; (2006) 161 A Crim R 449 Grimwade v Meagher [1995] 1 VR 446 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kallinicos v Hunt (2005) 64 NSWLR 561; [2005] NSWSC 1181 Kane's Hire Pty Ltd v Anderson Aviation Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 381 Liu v The Age Company & Ors [2010] NSWSC 1176 McVeigh v Linen House Pty Ltd [1999] VSCA 138; [1999] 3 VR 394 Nash v Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liq) [2019] FCA 957 New South Wales Crime Commission v Vu [2009] NSWCA 349 Newman v Phillips Fox (a firm) [1999] WASC 171; (1999) 21 WAR 309 Rakusen v Ellis Munday & Clarke [1912] 1 Ch 831 RHG Mortgage Limited v Ianni [2015] NSWCA 56 United Dairy Power Pty Ltd v Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd [2011] FCA 762 Wan v McDonald (1992) 33 FCR 491; (1992) 105 ALR 473 Texts Cited: Evidence (Interim) [1985] ALRC 26 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: John Smith (a pseudonym) (First Plaintiff) Jane Smith (a pseudonym) (Second Plaintiff) New South Wales Crimes Commission (First Defendant) Director of Public Prosecutions (Second Defendant) State of New South Wales (Third Defendant) Jane Doe (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Gasic (Fourth Defendant)