Ceccattini v ICM 2000 P/L [1999] NSWSC 453

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Ceccattini v ICM 2000 P/L [1999] NSWSC 453 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : 2696/97 HEARING DATE(S) : 15/04/99, 21/04/99 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 May 1999

Gualtiero Ceccattini (1P) PARTIES : Emilio De Michelis (2P) ICM 2000 Pty Limited (ACN 072 573 785) (1D) Wespac Industries Pty Limited (ACN 069 592 034) (2D) JUDGMENT OF : Santow J

COUNSEL : M Einfeld, QC/D L Warren (Ps) W Haffenden (Ds) SOLICITORS : Lapaine Pomare & Forster (Ps) Smits Leslie (Ds) CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE — Referee — Requirement to accord procedural fairness — Referee considered relevant material of potential significance from receiver's files before report delivered for confirmation of conclusions reached without advising parties — No opportunity to parties to adduce other evidence or make submissions — Inappropriate for referee to give evidence as to nature of material under Hardiman principle — No necessity to give reasons beyond those given — Relevant principles. Commonwealth of Australia v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1995) 133 ALR 629 Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Ltd v International Pools Australia Ltd (1995) 36 NSWLR 242 Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 Najjar v Haines (1991) 25 NSWLR 224 CASES CITED : R v Australia Broadcasting Tribunal ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13 Re JRL; ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 Super Pty Ltd v SJE Formwork (Aust) Pty Limited (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Telecomputing PCS Pty Ltd and others v Bridge Wholesale Acceptance Corporation (Aust) Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 513 Wentworth v Wentworth (NSWSC 317, Santow J, 9 April 1999, unreported) DECISION : Remit matter to Referee for further consideration based on breach of procedural fairness.