ASIC v Rich [2003] NSWSC 328

Reported Decision : (2003) 45 ACSR 305 (2003) 21 ACLC 920

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : ASIC v Rich [2003] NSWSC 328 HEARING DATE(S) : 28 March 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 April 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Austin J DECISION : Plaintiff entitled to orders against first, third and fourth defendants for discovery, and directions that those defendants file and serve affidavits or witness statements before the hearing

CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - discovery - privilege against exposure to a penalty - plaintiff takes proceeding seeking declarations of contravention, disqualification orders and compensation orders under Corporations Act - whether defendants can rely on privilege to avoid giving discovery and filing witness statements before trial LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 180, 206C, 206E, 920A, 1317E, 1317F, 1317G, 1317H, 1317J, 1317L, 1317N, 1317P, 1317Q, 1317R, 1399, 1400 ASC v Donovan (1998) 28 ACSR 583 ASC v Forem-Freeway Enterprises (1999) 38 ACSR 339 ASC v Kippe (1996) 67 FCR 499 ASIC v ABC Fund Managers Ltd [2001] VSC 92 ASIC v Rich [2003] NSWSC 186 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Amcor Printing Papers Group Ltd (1999) 163 ALR 465 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v FFE Building Services Ltd [ 2003] FCA 157 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd (1997) 77 FCR 217 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Plymin (2002) 4 VR 168 CAC (WA) v Ekamper (1987) 12 ACLR 519 Chew v NCSC (1985) 9 ACLR 527 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 77 ALJR 40 CASES CITED : Environmental Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Co Pty Ltd (1998) 178 CLR 477 Law Society of New South Wales v Foreman (1994) 34 NSWLR 408 NSW Bar Association v Evatt (1968) 117 CLR 177 Police Service Board v Morris (1984) 156 CLR 397 Pyneboard Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1983) 152 CLR 328 Re HIH Insurance Ltd; ASIC v Adler (2002) 42 ACSR 80 Re HIH Insurance Ltd; Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Adler (2001) 40 ACSR 214 Re Marsden (1981) 29 SASR 454 Re Tasmanian Spastics Association; ASC v Nandan (1997) 23 ACSR 743 Redfern v Redfern [1891] P 139 Refrigerated Express Lines (Australasia) Pty Ltd v Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (1979) 42 FLR 204 Reid v Howard (1995) 184 CLR 1 Sidebottom v Commissioner of Taxation [2003] VSCA 2 Australian Securities and Investments Commission (P/A) John David Rich (D1/R1) PARTIES : Bradley William Keeling (D2) John Huyshe Greaves (D3/R3) Mark Allen Silberman (D4/R4) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5934/01 R MacFarlan QC with P Durack and N Beaumont (A) COUNSEL : B Walker SC with D Williams (R1/R2) J West QC with M Jones (R3) Jan Redfern, Solicitor for Australian Securities and Investments Commission (A) SOLICITORS : Joanne Kelly, Solicitor (R1/R2) Watson Mangioni (R3)