Madden as Liquidator of Aquanaut Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2001] NSWSC 966

Reported Decision : (2002) 20 ACLC 505

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Madden as Liquidator of Aquanaut Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2001] NSWSC 966 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3630/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 8, 10, 16 & 17 August 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 October 2001

Martin Madden (P) PARTIES : Keith Stevens McConnell (Applicant) Judith Burnette (Applicant) JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J

C R C Newlinds (P) COUNSEL : P M Wood (K S McConnell) C Bilinsky, Solicitor (Judith Burnette) Andersen Legal (P) SOLICITORS : McConnell Jaffray (K S McConnell) Horowitz & Bilinsky (Judith Burnette) CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS [318] - Supervision, regulation and correction - Examinations - Scope of examination - Matters for inquiry - Examination of third party - Investigation by liquidators as to whether to bring proceedings and prospects of success - Whether documents required beyond proper ambit of order for examination - EVIDENCE [75] - Facts excluded from proof - On grounds of privilege - Professional confidence - Legal profession - Waiver of privilege - Effect of Evidence Act 1995 - Effect of Supreme Court Rules Part 36 r 13 - Whether Evidence Act or common law rules relating to privilege apply to production of documents in response to order under Part 36 r 12 - Whether privilege in documents lost - PROCEDURE [112] - Supreme Court procedure - Practice under Supreme Court Rules - Evidence - Other matters - Order to produce documents - Whether Evidence Act or common law rules relating to privilege apply - Whether privilege lost. Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 596B LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 ss 118, 119, 131 Supreme Court Rules 1970 Part 36 r 12 Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins (1998) 81 FCR 360 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v The Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 201 CLR 49 Hong Kong Bank of Australia Ltd v Murphy (1992) 28 NSWLR 512 Hospital Products Limited v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 CASES CITED : Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 Novus Australia Energy Company v Gulf Petroleum (Australia) [2001] NSWSC 579 Pilmer v Duke Group Limited (in Liq) (2001) 75 ALJR 1067 Re Global Medical Imaging Management Limited (In Liq) [2001] NSWSC 481 Sherlock v Permanent Trustee of Australia Ltd (1996) 22 ACSR 16 DECISION : Privilege upheld. Requisitions of order to produce that relate to privileged documents set aside. Balance of application to set aside order to produce documents refused.