Fiduciary Ltd v Morningstar Research Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 432

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Fiduciary Ltd v Morningstar Research Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 432

HEARING DATE(S) : 24/04/07

JUDGMENT DATE : 4 May 2007

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Corporations List

JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

DECISION : Interlocutory process of plaintiffs dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE - discovery and interrogatories - consent regime for discovery progressively created by consent orders - apprehension by one party that certain documents may have been destroyed - application by that party for leave to administer interrogatories as to fate of documents - whether interrogatories appropriate

LEGISLATION CITED : Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Rules 22.1, 22.2

American Flange & Manufacturing Co Inc v Rheem (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2)[1965] NSWR 193 Boyle v Downs [1979] 1 NSWLR 192 British Association of Glass Bottle Manufacturers Ltd v Nettlefold [1912] AC 709 Chong v Nguyen [2005] NSWSC 588 Conor Medsystems Inc v The University of British Columbia (No 3) [2006] FCA 121 CASES CITED : Director-General, Department of Community Services v D [2006] NSWSC 827 Douglas v Tasmania [2004] TASSC 131 Fiduciary Ltd v Morningstar Research Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 664 Hall v Truman Handbury & Co (1885) 29 ChD 307 Schutt v Queenan [2000] NSWCA 341 Tony Azzi (Automobiles) Pty Ltd v Volvo Car (Australia) Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 283

Fiduciary Limited - First Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant Graham John Rich - Second Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant Fiduciary Consultants Limited - Third Plaintiff/Third Cross-Defendant Brillient Pty Limited - Fourth Cross-Defendant Morningstar Research Pty Ltd - First Defendant/First Cross-Claimant PARTIES : Morningstar Inc - Second Defendant/Second Cross-Claimant Joe Mansueto - Third Defendant Tao Huang - Fourth Defendant Donald James Phillips II - Fifth Defendant Bevin Desmond - Sixth Defendant Nicholas John Reynolds - Seventh Defendant