Carbotech-Australia Pty Ltd & anor v Yates & 14 ors [2008] NSWSC 540

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Carbotech-Australia Pty Ltd & anor v Yates & 14 ors [2008] NSWSC 540

HEARING DATE(S) : 4 April & 16 May 2008

JUDGMENT DATE : 3 June 2008

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

DECISION : The communications do not give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias. Further, any complaint of bias was waived. The report does not cover matters outside the terms of reference. Appeal allowed; report adopted.

CATCHWORDS : COURTS AND JUDGES – Bias – apprehended bias – referee – where referee communicates with one party only on matter of administration and procedure – whether reasonable apprehension of bias arises. - COURTS AND JUDGES – Bias – waiver – where party engages with referee on merits of report after becoming aware of possibility of apprehended bias – whether complaint of bias waived. - PROCEDURE – Referee – report – adoption – whether report covers matters outside reference – whether report should be rejected for apprehended bias – where Associate Judge dismissed motion for adoption – appeal from Associate Judge.

LEGISLATION CITED : (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules r 49.4 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970, s 75A

CATEGORY : Separate question

Chocolate Factory Apartments Limited v Westpoint Finance Pty Limited [2005] NSWSC 784 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488 Re JRL; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 Kanda v Government of Malaya [1962] AC 322 CASES CITED : Kartinyeri v The Commonwealth (1998) 156 ALR 300 Laws v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1990) 170 CLR 70 S & M Motor Repairs Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1988) 12 NSWLR 358 Smits v Roach (2006) 227 CLR 423 Vakuata v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568 Xuereb v Viola (1989) 18 NSWLR 453