Strategic Publishing Group Pty Limited & Anor v John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited [2003] NSWSC 1134

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Strategic Publishing Group Pty Limited & Anor v John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited [2003] NSWSC 1134 HEARING DATE(S) : 1/12/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 December 2003

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J DECISION : Application for permanent stay to be dismissed. Security for costs to be provided.

CATCHWORDS : Practice and procedure - Contract - Agreement for referral of dispute to independent accountant - Defendant applicant seeks orders staying proceedings for the purpose of permitting the dispute to be referred to the independent expert-contractual construction - proper exercise of the discretion - Costs - application for security for costs Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Frustrated Contracts Act 1978 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Ashville Investments Ltd v Elmer Contractors Ltd [1989] QB 488 Ajzner v Cartonlux Pty Ltd [1972] VR 919 Aztec Mining Co Ltd v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd (unreported, Murray J, Supreme Court of Western Australia, 23 February 1990). Badgin Nominees Pty Ltd v Oneida Ltd [1998] VSC 188 Carus-Wilson & Greene, Re (1887) 18 QBD 7 Channel Tunnel Group Limited v Balfour Beatty Construction Limited [1993] AC 334 Cott UK Ltd v F.E. Barber Ltd [1997] 3 All ER 540 Dawdy and Hartcup, Re (1885) 15 QBD 426 Dowell Australia Ltd v Triden Contractors Pty Ltd [1982] 1 NSWLR 508 Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd v MPN Group Pty Ltd (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 14 July 1997, Rolfe J, unreported). Fountain v Alexander (1982) 150 CLR 615 Francis Travel Marketing Pty Ltd v Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 160 CASES CITED : Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Atkinson-Leighton Joint Venture (1979) 146 CLR 206 Heart Research Institute Ltd v Psiron Ltd [2002] NSWSC 646 Hi-Fert Pty Ltd v Kiukiang Maritime Carriers Inc (1997) 90 FCR 1 Himbelton Pty Limited v Kumagai (NSW) Pty Limited (1991) 29 NSWLR 44 Huddart Parker Ltd v The Ship Mill Hill (1950) 81 CLR 502 IBM Australia Ltd v National Distribution Services Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 466 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [2001] NSWSC 744 Inland Revenue Commissioners v Maple & Co (Paris) Ltd [1908] AC 22 New South Wales v Banabelle Electrical Pty Limited (2002) 54 NSWLR 503 Perlman v Perlman (1984) 155 CLR 474 Public Authorities Superannuation Board v Southern International Developments Corp Pty Ltd, NSWSC, 19 October 1987 (unreported), Savcor Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales (2001) 52 NSWLR 587 Timic v Hammock [2001] FCA 74 Triarno Pty Ltd v Triden Contractors Ltd (1992) 10 BCL 305 Strategic Publishing Group Pty Limited (First Plaintiff/Respondent) PARTIES : Dominion Corporate Holdings Limited (Second Plaintiff/Respondent) John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited (Defendant/Applicant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50116/03 COUNSEL : Dr AS Bell (Plaintiffs/Respondents) Mr PM Wood (Defendant/Applicant) SOLICITORS : Gilbert + Tobin (Plaintiffs/Respondents) Freehills (Defendant/Applicant)