Project 28 Pty Ltd v Barr & Ors [2007] NSWSC 715

Reported Decision : 64 ACSR 620

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Project 28 Pty Ltd v Barr & Ors [2007] NSWSC 715

HEARING DATE(S) : 13/06/07

JUDGMENT DATE : 4 July 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J

DECISION : Corporate defendant to serve witness statements except where a witness claims privilege against self-incrimination when witness statement to be served after close of plaintiff's case if witness is to give evidence.

CATCHWORDS : EVIDENCE - Witnesses - Allegation of provision of secret commission by corporate defendant - Registrar ordered it to serve witness statements - On review, Associate Justice ordered the statements to be served only after close of plaintiff's case - Privilige against self-incrimination not open to corporations - Whether Associate Justice in error

Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Crimes Act 1900 Evidence Act 1995

Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 203 CLR 194 Sorby v The Commonwealth (1983) 152 CLR 281 Accident Insurance Mutual Holdings Ltd v McFadden (1993) 31 NSWLR 412 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Co Pty Ltd (1992-1993) 178 CLR 477 CASES CITED : Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v FFE Building Services Ltd (2003) 130 FCR 37 The Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v ABC Fund Managers Ltd [2001] VSC 92 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union of Australia v Alfred (2004) 135 FCR 459 Trade Practices Commission v Abbco Iceworks Pty Ltd (1994) 52 FCR 96