Rickard Constructions Pty Limited v Rickard Hails Moretti Pty Limited [2006] NSWSC 234

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Rickard Constructions Pty Limited v Rickard Hails Moretti Pty Limited [2006] NSWSC 234 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 9 March 2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 5 April 2006

JUDGMENT OF : Bergin J

DECISION : Access to documents refused.

CATCHWORDS : [PRIVILEGE] Secured creditor agrees to fund litigation pursuant to Deed of Company arrangement - whether funder under implied obligation to keep communications with plaintiff's lawyers confidential - whether documents provided to the funder to ensure funding of litigation are privileged pursuant to s 118 and/or s 119 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) - whether common interest between funder and plaintiff so that s 122(2) and s 122(4) of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) do not apply

LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1995) 37 NSWLR 405 Bank of Nova Scotia v Hellenic Mutual War Risks Associations (Bermuda) Ltd ("The Good Luck") [1992] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 540 Bulk Materials (Coal Handling) Services Pty Ltd v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd (1988) 13 NSWLR 689 Buttes Gas & Oil Co v Hammer (No. 3) [1981] QB 223 Carnell v Mann (1998) 89 FCR 247 Farrow Mortgage Services Ptd Ltd (in liq) v Webb (1996) 39 NSWLR 601 Guinness Peat Properties Ltd. v Fitzroy Robinson Partnership [1987] 1 WLR 1027 CASES CITED : Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 Network Ten Ltd v Capital Televsion Holdings Ltd (1995) 36 NSWLR 275 R v Cox & Railton (1884) 14 QBD 153 Rank Film Distribution Ltd v ENT Ltd (1994) 4 Tas R 281 Re Global Medical Imaging Management Limited (in liq) [2001] NSWSC 476 Somerville v Australian Securities Commission (1995) 60 FCR 319 Southern Cross Airlines Holdings Ltd (in liq) v Arthur Andersen & Co (a firm) (1998) 84 FCR 472 Telstra Corporation v Australis Media Holdings (No 2) (1997) 41 NSWLR 346