Afflito v Commonwealth of Australia and Ors [2003] NSWSC 276

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Afflito v Commonwealth of Australia and Ors [2003] NSWSC 276 HEARING DATE(S) : 4/4/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 April 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Shaw J DECISION : (1) Reject the application for the subpoenas to be set aside; (2) Dismiss the notices of motion; (3) Require the respondents/plaintiffs to formally give undertakings proffered by thier counsel as a condition precedent to the production of the disputed material; (4) Order that the applicant in these proceedings pay the costs of the respondents of the proceedings.

CATCHWORDS : Practice and Procedure - subpoenas - public interest - whether public interest in privacy of blood donor identity outweighed by plaintiffs right to bring their actions - LEGISLATION CITED : Human Tissues Act 1993 (NSW) ss 4, 21C, 21D, 37 Public Health Act 1991 (NSW) Sched 1 Alister v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 404; Ainsworth v Hanrahan (1991) 25 NSWLR 155; Arhill Pty Limited v General Terminal Co Pty Limited (1990) 23 NSWLR 545; Bell Group Limited (in liq) v Westpac Banking Corp (1998) 86 FCR 215; CASES CITED : BC v Australian Red Cross Society (Unreported, VicSC, 25 February 1991); BC v Australian Red Cross Society (Unreported, VicCA, 7 March 1991); NJ v Australian Red Cross Society (Unreported, VicSC) PD v Australian Red Cross Society (NSW Division) (1993) 30 NSWLR 376; ZG v Australian Red Cross Society (Unreported, NSWSC 23 May 1997); Maria Afflito - Plaintiff Commonwealth of Australia - First defendant Australian Red Cross Society - Second defendant PARTIES : Stephen Baker - Plaintiff Australian Red Cross Society - Defendant John Howard Emerton - Plaintiff Australian Red Cross Society - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20282/02; 20458/02; 20023/02 COUNSEL : D Letcher, QC - Plaintiffs P Garling, SC with S Woods - Defendant SOLICITORS : Turner Freeman Solicitors - Plaintiffs Frances Allpress Solicitor - Defendant