Sovereign Motor Inns v Howarth Asia Pacific [2003] NSWSC 1120

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Sovereign Motor Inns v Howarth Asia Pacific [2003] NSWSC 1120 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 November 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 December 2003 JURISDICTION: Common Law JUDGMENT OF : Master Harrison DECISION : (1) The amended statement of claim filed 3 November 2003 is dismissed; (2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs of the motion and of the proceedings

CATCHWORDS : Strike out statement of claim - whether witness immunity applies to expert's reports LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules - Part 13 r 5, Part 15 r 26 Trde Practices Act 1974 - s 52 Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552; [2200] HCA 41 Air Services Australia v Zarb (NSWCA unreported, 26 August 1998) Arthur J S Hall & Co v Simons [2002] 1 AC 615 Baker v Campbell (1983) 49 ALR 385 Bishop v Chung Brothers (1907) 4 CLR 1262 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 CEO of Customs v Labrador [2003] HCA 49 Cabassi v Vila (1940) 64 CLR 130 CASES CITED : Darker v Chief Constable of West Midlands [2001] 1 AC 435 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 Jovanovic & Anor v Woods & Ors [2001] TASSC 96 (15 August 2001) Mann v O'Neill (1997) 71 ALJR 903; (1997) 191 CLR 204 Melbourne Corporation v Barry (1992) 31 CLR 175 Pyneboard Pty Limited v Trades Practices Commission (1983) 45 ALR 609 R v Beydoun (1990) 22 NSWLR 256 Stanton v Callaghan [2000] QB 75 Webster & Anor v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598 Sovereign Motor Inns Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) PARTIES : Howarth Asia Pacific Pty Limited (Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20010/2003 Mr M Cashion SC with Mr F Donohoe (Plaintiff) COUNSEL : Mr D Davies SC with Mr BM McManus (Defendant) Laurence & Laurence (Plaintiff) SOLICITORS : Colin Biggers & Paisley (Defendant)