BHAGAT v GLOBAL CUSTODIANS LIMITED [2002] NSWCA 160

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : BHAGAT v GLOBAL CUSTODIANS LIMITED [2002] NSWCA 160 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40769/00; 40770/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 7 May 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 May 2002

Hari Bhagat (Appellant) Global Custodians Limited (First Respondent) PARTIES : John Healey Speight (Second Respondent) Jessee Barrie Marr Speight (Third Respondent) Archie Greenlees (Fourth Respondent) Norma Patricia Greenlees (Fifth Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Ipp AJA at 53; Brownie AJA at 56

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Equity Division LOWER COURT SC 2539/98; 3156/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Justice Young JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : In Person (Appellant) G C Lindsay SC (Respondents) SOLICITORS : In Person (Appellant) Holding Redlich (Respondents) CATCHWORDS : CONTEMPT OF COURT - whether improper pressure applied to a party to withdraw from proceedings - where threatening letter sent to persons consenting to be joined as plaintiffs - where letter marked 'without prejudice' - whether letter admissible - whether communication between persons 'in dispute' - Evidence Act 1995, s131. LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 Supreme Court Act 1970 AMIEU v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98 Attorney-General v Hislop [1991] 1 QB 514 Attorney-General v Times Newspapers Ltd [1974] AC 273 Coles Myer Limited v O'Brien (1992) 28 NSWLR 525 CASES CITED: Global Custodians Limited v Mesh [1999] NSWSC 624 Harkianakis v Skalkos (1997) 42 NSWLR 22 Hinch v Attorney-General (Vic) (1987) 164 CLR 15 Resolute Limited v Warnes [2000] WASCA 359 Vajda v Nine Network Australia Limited [2000] NSWSC 873 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 DECISION : Appeals dismissed with costs.