Wyszynski & Anor v Bill [2005] NSWSC 110

New South Wales Supreme Court

Wyszynski & Anor v Bill [2005] NSWSC 110 CITATION : This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 08/02/05

JUDGMENT DATE : 9 February 2005

JUDGMENT OF : White J

DECISION : See paras 64-67 of judgment.

CATCHWORDS : CONTEMPT - Failure to comply with orders of the Master - No case to answer - Ambiguity of the order - Whether order capable of compliance - Whether more than one possible construction of order prevents liability for contempt - Requirements to prove civil contempt - No evidence by the plaintiff - Evidence failed to satisfy beyond reasonable doubt first plaintiff still posessed the document when order made.

LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW)

May v O'Sullivan (1955) 92 CLR 654 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 Australian Securities Commission v Macleod (1993) 40 FCR 155 R v Hoser (No.2) [2001] VSC 525 Australian Securities Commission v Burns (No. 2) (1994) 130 ALR 89 Hocking v Bell (1945) 71 CLR 430 Proceedings for an Alleged Contempt of Court by Animal Liberation (SA) Inc. Re; Takhar and Animal Liberation (SA) Inc. [2002] SASC 71 R v Rothery (1925) 25 SR (NSW) 451 Wimpole v McIlwraith [1923] VLR 553 re Vassis; ex P. Leung (1986) 9 FCR 518 "Using an Opponent's Affidavit" Mehigan, (1986) 2 Australian Bar Review 279 CASES CITED : Kirkpatrick v Kotis [2004] NSWSC 1265 Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Morgan (1965) 112 CLR 483 Iberian Trust Limited v Founders Trust and Investment Company Ltd [1932] 2KB 87 Redwing Limited v Redwing Forest Products Limited (1947) 177 LT 387 Microsoft Corporation v Marks (1996) 139 ALR 99 Gilbert v Endean (1878) 9 Ch D 259 Carter v Roberts (1903) 2 Ch 312 Hadkinson v Hadkinson [1952] P 285 Isaacs v Robertson [1985] AC 97 National Australia Bank (NAB) Limited v Juric (2001) VSC 375 Re: Bramblevale Pty Limited [1970] Ch 128