Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre Pty Ltd & Anor v Beaumont & 2 Ors; Laser Sight Centres Australasia (Sydney) & Anor v Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre Pty Ltd & Anor [2003] NSWSC 688

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre Pty Ltd & Anor v Beaumont & 2 Ors; Laser Sight Centres Australasia (Sydney) & Anor v Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre Pty Ltd & Anor [2003] NSWSC 688 HEARING DATE(S) : 24 July 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 July 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J DECISION : (i) the subpoena served upon the first applicant on 8 April 2003 and issued at the request of the plaintiffs on 28 March 2003 is set aside; (ii) the subpoena served upon the second applicant on 9 April 2003 and issued at the request of the plaintiffs on 28 March 2003 is set aside; (iii) the plaintiffs are to pay the expenses and losses incurred by the applicants in consequence of the service of the subpoena to the extent that those expenses and losses exceed the sum of $30 in each case; (iv) the plaintiffs are to pay the applicants' costs of the notice of motion.

CATCHWORDS : defamation - defences to the statement of claim - application for subpoenae duces tecum to be set aside - oppression - costs LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974, (NSW) s7A Supreme Court Rules Part 37, Rule 9(1) Danieletto v Khera (1995) 35 NSWLR 684 CASES CITED : Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre Pty Ltd v Beaumont [2002] NSWSC 638, unreported, 19 July 2002 The Commissioner for Railways v Small (1938) 38 NSWR 564 Laser Sight Centres Australasia (Sydney) Pty Ltd - First Applicant Laser Sight Centres Australasia (Parramatta) Pty Ltd - Second Applicant Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre Pty Ltd - First Plaintiff/Respondent PARTIES : Dr Michael A Lawless - Second Plaintiff/Respondent Dr Paul Beaumont - First Defendant HSV Channel 7 Pty Ltd - Second Defendant Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd - Third Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20298/98 COUNSEL : MA Friedgut (Sol) - Applicants MF Richardson - Respondents (Plaintiffs) SOLICITORS : Freehills Gilbert and Tobin