Carbotech-Australia Pty Ltd v Yates [2008] NSWSC 1151

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Carbotech-Australia Pty Ltd v Yates [2008] NSWSC 1151

HEARING DATE(S) : 10 October 2008 JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 10 October 2008

DECISION : Privilege claimed by SES and ERA defendants over documents produced by Sparke Helmore and Phillips Fox lost due to fraud exception. All parties may have access

CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE – SUBPOENAS – plaintiffs seeking access to documents produced under subpoena by former solicitors of defendants – whether question of access to subpoenaed material determined under common law, (NSW) Evidence Act 1995, or Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, r 1.9 – CLIENT LEGAL PRIVILEGE – whether documents subject to client legal privilege – where substantial volume of documents produced to Court with no evidence of authors' purpose(s) – inspection by Court – necessity for proper evidence of purpose – whether client legal privilege lost due to communications being in furtherance of criminal or fraudulent act – whether person providing advice must know criminal or fraudulent purpose – meaning of "furtherance" of a criminal or fraudulent act – WAIVER – where some documents over which privilege is claimed were exhibited to affidavits read in proceedings – whether the defendants have waived privilege over those documents

LEGISLATION CITED : (NSW) Evidence Act 1995, ss 118, 125 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, r 1.9, Pt 33

CATEGORY : Procedural and other rulings

A G Australia Holdings Ltd v Burton [2002] NSWSC 170; (2002) 58 NSWLR 464 Barclays Bank plc v Eustice [1995] 4 All ER 511 Butler v Board of Trade [1971] 1 Ch 680 Cassaniti v Paragalli [2006] NSWSC 160; (2006) 229 ALR 416 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia [1999] HCA 67; (1999) 201 CLR 49 Finers (a firm) v Miro [1991] 1 All ER 182 Gamlen Chemical Co (UK) Ltd v Rochem Ltd [1983] RPC 1 Gamlen Chemical Co (UK) Ltd v Rochem (Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 7 December 1979, unreported (Goff LJ)) CASES CITED : Hooker Corporation Ltd v Darling Harbour Authority (1987) 9 NSWLR 538 ML Ubase Holdings Co Limited v Trigem Computer Inc [2007] NSWSC 859 National Employers' Mutual General Association v Waind & Hill [1978] 1 NSWLR 372 O'Rourke v Darbishire [1920] AC 581 R v Cox & Railton (1884) 14 QBD 153 Re Bauhaus Pyrmont Pty Limited (in liq) [2006] NSWSC 543 Ryder v Frohlich [2005] NSWSC 1342 Watson v McLernon [2000] NSWSC 306 Westpac Banking Corp v 789TEN Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 321; (2005) 55 ACSR 519 Zemanek v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (FCA, 2 October 1997, unreported)