Pickles and Ors v Gratzon and Ors [2002] NSWSC 688

Reported Decision : (2002) 55 NSWLR 533

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Pickles and Ors v Gratzon and Ors [2002] NSWSC 688 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 10271/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 1/8/02;2/8/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 August 2002

PARTIES : Graham Leign Pickles,Leonie Mary Lovell, Tech Pacific Holdings Pty Ltd and Hagemeyer Asia Pacific Pty Ltd v Fred Gratzon, Stephen Baumgartner, Eric BStackland, Douglas Neish and J Sherman Henderson III JUDGMENT OF : O'Keefe J

COUNSEL : Mr T E F Hughes QC/Mr G R Kennett - Applicants Mr P Garling SC/Mr J Downing - Respondents SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison, Sydney - Applicants Hunt and Hunt, Sydney - Respondents CATCHWORDS : Evidence - Evidence on commission - Foreign court - Letter of Request - Letters Rogatory - International judicial assistance - Examination of witnesses in civil and commercial matters - Evidence by deposition - Participation by foreign attorneys - Discovery against persons not parties to foreign action not permitted - Pre-trial discovery not permitted - Fishing expedition not permitted - Roving commission not permitted - Treaty - Hague Convention - Setting aside subpoena - Setting aside ex parte order - Who is a party - Practice - Discretion Evidence on Commission Act, 1995 Pt 4 ss 32, 33 Subpreme Court Rules Pt 40 r 9(3); Pt 37 r 8 Foreign Tribunal Evidence Act, 1856 (UK) LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence (Procedures in Other Jurisdictions) Act, 1975 (UK) Evidence Act, 1898 Pt 9 ss 78, 79 Evidence (Evidence on Commission) Amendment Act, 1988 s 5 Bankruptcy Code of the USA Ch 11, Title 11 Treaty on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (1992, No 37) (The Hague Convention) Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 23, Ch 3 Applicant A v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1997) 142 ALR 331 Sands & McDougall Pty Limited v Robinson (1917) 23 CLR 49 The Banco (1971) P 137 D & R Henderson (MFG) Pty Ltd v Collector of Customs (NSW) (1974) 48 ALJR 132 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992) 110 ALR 97 Hardie Rubber Co Pty Limited v General Tire & Rubber Co (1971-1773) 129 CLR 527 Bidder v Bridge (1884) 26 ChD 1 Owners of SS Kalibia v Wilson (1910) 11 CLR 689 CASES CITED : Re Jeld-Wen Inc and Oregon Corporation (1998) NSWSC (Unreported 25 September 1998) Radio Corporation of America v Rauland Corporation (1956) 1 QB 618 Re Asbestos Insurance Coverage Cases (1985) 1 WLR 331 Re Westinghouse Electric Corporation Uranium Contract Litigation M.D.L. Docket No 235 (Nos 1 and 2) (1978) AC 547 Applicaiton of Forsyth; Re Cordova v Philips Roxane Laboratories Inc (1984) 2 NSWLR 327 Seyfang v G D Searle & Co (1973) qb 143 Lenning v Alexander Proudfoot Company World Headquarters (1991) NSWCCA, unreported 22 April 1991 National Mutual Holdings Pty Limited v Century Corporation (1990) Federal Court of Australia, unreported 30 May 1990 Sydney Ferries Limited v S S Tahiti (1928) 28 SR (NSW) 307 Smith v Smith (1975) 1 NSWLR 725 DECISION : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - Orders concerning legal representation, procedure at taking of evidence and date of commencement (see paragraph 96); 6. Notice of Motion filed on 26 July 2002 otherwise dismissed; 7. Applicants to pay respondents costs of Motion; 8. Liberty to apply on 24 hours notice.