Ceccattini & 1 Ors v ICM 2000 P/L & 1 Ors [1999] NSWSC 1196

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Ceccattini & 1 Ors v ICM 2000 P/L & 1 Ors [1999] NSWSC 1196 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : 2696/97 HEARING DATE(S) : 4/11/1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 December 1999

Gualtiero Ceccattini (First Plaintiff) PARTIES : Emilio de Michelis (Second Plaintiff) ICM 2000 Pty Limited (ACN 072 573 785) (First Defendant) Westpac Industries Pty Limited (ACN 069 592 034) (Second Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Santow J

COUNSEL : M L D Einfeld,QC / D Warren (Plaintiffs) W Haffenden (Defendants) SOLICITORS : Lapaine Pomare & Forster (Plaintiffs) Smits Leslie (Defendants) CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — Apprehended bias based on prejudgment in relation to procedural unfairness where the latter is intended to be corrected by orders and submissions requiring further evidence and submissions before the referee's report is adopted — procedural requirements for a Referee — Waiver. ACTS CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s140 Supreme Court Rules Pt 72, r 8 Australian National Industries Ltd v Spedley Securities Ltd (1992) 26 NSWLR 411 Barbosa v Di Meglio ([1999] NSWCA 307, 26 February 1999, unreported) Bilgin v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1997) 149 ALR 281 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Burwood Municipality v Harvey (1995) 86 LGERA 389 Challenge Finance Ltd v Forshaw No. 3 (Supreme Court of NSW, 16 February 1995, unreported) Dovade Pty Ltd & Ors v Westpac Banking Group & Anor [1999] NSWCA 113 Galea v Galea (1990) 19 NSWLR 263 Gascar v Ellicott [1997] 1 VR 332 Goktas v GIO (1993) 31 NSWLR 684 Helljay Investments Pty Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 32 ACSR 625 Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 CASES CITED : Locobail (UK) Ltd v Bayfield Times Law Reports 9 November 1999 Raybos Australia Pty Limited v Tectran Corporation Pty Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 272 Re JRL; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 R v Carter and the Attorney-General (Supreme Court of Tasmania, Cox, Underwood and Spicer JJ, October 1991, unreported) R v Gough [1993] AC 646 R v Lars (NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, 30 June 1994, unreported) R v Lusink Ex parte Shaw (1980) 32 ALR 47 R v Masters (1992) 26 NSWLR 450 R v Watson ; Ex parte Armstrong (1976) 136 CLR 248 Rozenes & Anor v Judge Kelly [1996] 1 VR 320 Smits v Buckworth (Supreme Court of NSW, 22 September 1997, unreported) Telecomputing PLC v Bridges Wholesale Acceptance (1991) 24 NSWLR 513 Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568 Webb v the Queen (1994) 181 CLR 41 DECISION : Not satisfied there is a reasonable apprehension of bias. Not satisfied there is any such failure on the Referree's part as should result in a fresh referral to a new referee.