789TEN v Westpac [2004] NSWSC 594

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : 789TEN v Westpac [2004] NSWSC 594 HEARING DATE(S) : 15 June 2004, 15 July 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 28 July 2004

JUDGMENT OF : McDougall J at 1 DECISION : See paras [40] to [42] of judgment

CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE & PROCEDURE - abuse of process - where cross-defendants allege cross-claimant aware of information alleged as material facts in cross-claims only as result of privileged and confidential communications made for purposes of or in course of mediation - where mediation agreement contained confidentiality clause - analogy between without prejudice discussions and mediation - whether paragraphs should be struck out for abuse of process - whether conspiracy claim has no prospect of success - whether facts alleged in cross-claim show that cross-claimant has suffered damage - whether claim should be dismissed pursuant to Pt 15 r 26 LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules AWA Limited v Daniels (Rolfe J, 5029 of 1991, 18/3/92, unrep) AWA v Daniels (1992) 7 ACSR 463 Lukies v Ripley (No 2) (1994) 35 NSWLR 283 CASES CITED : Williamson v Schmidt [1998] 2 Qd R 317 Lonrho Ltd v Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (No 2) [1982] AC 173 Lonrho Plc v Fayed (No 5) [1993] 1 WLR 1489 McKellar v Container Terminal Management Services Ltd (1999) 165 ALR 409 789TEN Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) PARTIES : Westpac Banking Corporation (First Defendant) Colin Alexander (Second Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50167/03 M R Elliott (for 789TEN) COUNSEL : F M Douglas QC/P J Dowdy (for Westpac) M D Broun QC/A Harper (Solicitor) (for Alexander) Laurence & Laurence (for 789TEN) SOLICITORS : Henry Davis York (for Westpac) Turtons Lawyers (for Alexander)