Blanket and anor v Telstra Corporation Limited [2004] NSWIRComm 161

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Blanket and anor v Telstra Corporation Limited [2004] NSWIRComm 161 FIRST APPLICANT Paul Blanket

PARTIES : SECOND APPLICANT The Blanket Partnership

RESPONDENT Telstra Corporation Limited FILE NUMBER: 7508 of 2001 CORAM: Marks J CATCHWORDS : Interlocutory application for costs - alleged unfair employment arrangement - discovery of documents - competing submissions of parties as to costs - principles relating to discovery process considered - common law test of relevance applied - attitude of legal practitioners impeded consensus - duties of legal practitioners breached - proceedings adjourned for further submissions to show cause why legal costs should not be borne by legal practitoners Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 106 Industrial Relations Commission Rules 1996 ss 160 162 163 LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court of New South Wales Rules

Century Medical Inc v THLD Limited (No 3) [2000] NSWSC 428 E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co v Commissioner of Patents (1987) 16 FCR 423 at 424 Ferguson v MacKaness Produce Pty Ltd [1979] 2 NSWR 66 CASES CITED : Glover Gibbs Pty Ltd trading as Balfours New South Wales Pty Ltd v Laybutt [2004] NSWCA 45 Mulley v Manifold (1959) 103 CLR 341 at 345 National Australia Bank Ltd v Idoport Pty Ltd [2000] NSWCA 8 Woods v Martin Bank Limited [1958] 1 WLR HEARING DATES: 06/01/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/28/2004