Moage Ltd v Jagelman and Others [2002] NSWSC 953

Reported Decision : 43 ACSR 173

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Moage Ltd v Jagelman and Others [2002] NSWSC 953 revised - 31/10/2002 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50067/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 11/10/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 October 2002

Moage Limited (in liquidation) - Plaintiff PARTIES : County Natwest Securities Australia Ltd - Fifth Defendant - Applicant Jagelman and Others - Defendants JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J

Ms Wendy Harris - Plaintiff/Respondent COUNSEL : Mr A Davis - 1st and 2nd Defendants Mr TGR Parker - 5th Defendant/Applicant Kemp Strang Lawyers SOLICITORS : Allens Arthur Robinson Snelgrove Boyle Neilson Solicitors CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE - Discovery and interrogatories - Affidavits disclosed under court order - Implied undertaking not to use information for collateral or ulterior purpose - Undertaking at end when affidavits read in open court - Application for release from undertaking to disclose to ASIC and Commonwealth DPP - Balancing public interest in investigation of criminal offences against public interest in maintenance of confidentiality - Motive of applicant - ASIC and DPP not wishing to be heard - Disclosure of affidavits three years before application - Application following publicity deponent to return to Australia to give evidence under DPP statement no likelihood of arrest for past criminal matters and no fresh charges in contemplation Companies (Acquisition of Shares) (Victoria) Code LEGISLATION CITED : Foreign Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Home Office v Harman [1983] 1 AC 280 at 302 Bailey v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995) 1 Qd R 476 at 484 Riddick v Tims Board Mills Ltd [1977] QB 881 at 895 Ainsworth v Hanrahan (1991) 25 NSWLR 155 at 166-168,169-170 Central Queensland Cement Pty Ltd v Hardy [1989] 2 Qd R 509 at 501-511 Springfield Nominees Pty Ltd v Bridgelands Securities Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 217 at 223 Abigroup Ltd v Atkins (1997) NSWLR 623 at 627-628 CASES CITED : McCabe v British American Tobacco Australia Services Ltd [2002] VSC 150 at [15] Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Plowman (1995) 183 CLR 10 at 32-33 Crest Homes Plc v Marks [1987] 1 AC 829 at 854 Prudential Assurance Co v Fountain Page Ltd [1991] 3 All ER 878 at 895 Minister for Education v Bailey (2000) 23 WAR 149 at 157 Holpitt Pty Ltd v Varimu Pty Ltd (1991) 29 FCR 576 at 578 Rank Film Distrubutors Ltd v Video Information Centre [1982] AC 380 at 447 The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Telstra Corporation Ltd (2000) 96 FCR 317 at 321 DECISION : Application dismissed with costs