Doran Constructions Pty Limited (in Liquidation) [2002] NSWSC 215

Reported Decision : (2002) 20 ACLC 909

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Doran Constructions Pty Limited (in Liquidation) [2002] NSWSC 215 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5112/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 12 December 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 27 March 2002

PARTIES : Alan Edwards Lewis (Applicant) Christopher Freeman (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Campbell J

COUNSEL : S Donaldson SC (Applicant) A S Martin SC with A Gelbart (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Walker Insolvency Lawyers (Applicant) Christopher C Freeman & Co (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS - winding up - liquidator's examination - circumstances in which liquidator entitled to ask questions relating to legal advice given to company in liquidation - EVIDENCE - liquidator's examinations - whether evidence given at is governed by Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) - EVIDENCE - legal professional privilege - circumstances in which joint retainer of solicitor exists - EVIDENCE - procedure to adopt when deciding whether legal professional privilege does not exist - EVIDENCE - waiver of client legal privilege - disclosure of substance of advice - disclosure made knowingly and voluntarily - disclosure by agent or employee authorised to make it - disclosure made under compulsion of law The Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Service and Execution of Process Act 1901 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Companies Act 1899 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Rochefoucould v Boustead (1896) 65 LJCh 794 Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (in Liq) v Webb (1996) 39 NSWLR 601 Stockbridge v Lupton, McLelland J, 23 September 1988, unreported Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Ltd & General Contractors Importing and Services Enterprises v Harrison [1997] 1 Lloyds Report 160 Sullman v Sullman [2002] NSWSC 169 Makita (Aust) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305 Jones v Dunkell (1959) 101 CLR 298 Minter v Priest [1930] AC 558 Alfred Crompton Amusement Machines Ltd v Customs and Excise Commissioners (No. 2) [1972] 2 QB 102 Perry v Smith (1842) 9 M & W 681 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 Northern Territory v GPAO (1999) 196 CLR 553 CASES CITED : Cheney v Spooner (1929) 41 CLR 532 Gould v Brown (1998) 193 CLR 346 Proust v Blake (1989) 17 NSWLR 267 Blake v Norris (1990) 20 NSWLR 300 Fiorentino v Irons (1997) 79 FCR 327 Re Interchase Corporation Limited (1996) 68 FCR 481 Re Griffin (1887) 8 LR (NSW) 132 Yelds v Nurses Tribunal (2000) 49 NSWLR 491 Re Transequity Ltd (in Liq) (1991) Tas R 308 Re BPTC Ltd (in Liq) (1992) 7 ACSR 539 Re Compass Airlines Pty Ltd (1992) 35 FCR 447 Re Darlington Commodities Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 424 Re BPTC Ltd (in Liq) (1993) 29 NSWLR 708 Re John Pringle & Co Limited (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 508 DECISION : See orders following para 128