National Telecoms Group Ltd v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (No 1) [2011] NSWSC 455

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: National Telecoms Group Ltd v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (No 1) [2011] NSWSC 455 Hearing dates: 27-28 April 2011; 2-5 May 2011; 9-12 May 2011; Decision date: 19 May 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Davies J Decision: The following portions of the report of Mr Ross of 5 May 2008 are rejected - para 2.2.4(ii), section 2.9, para 2.10.2(iii), para 2.12.2(iii), section 8, para 9.1.1(v), para 9.4.4, section 9.5, para 9.6.1(v), para 10.1.3(iv), para 10.1.4, para 10.1.5 and Appendix 13 to the report. Catchwords: EVIDENCE - opinion evidence - expert opinion - specialised knowledge - whether conclusions of experts based on specialised knowledge - principles in Makita v Sprowles - reliance by expert on analysts' and brokers' reports concerning the Plaintiff - whether such reports constitute business records - whether such reports admissible. Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 Trade Practices Act 1974 Cases Cited: Carson v John Fairfax and Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 34 Davie v Lord Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the City of Edinburgh [1953] SC 34 Dingle v Associated Newspapers [1964] AC 371 Guest v Commissioner of Taxation [2007] FCA 193 Forbes Engineering (Asia) Pte Limited v Forbes (No 4) [2009] FCA 675 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd (17) [2001] NSWSC 123 Linfox Transport (Aust) Pty Ltd v Arthur Yates & Co Ltd; Dynamic Lifter Pty Ltd v Linfox Transport (Aust) Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 943 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Roach v Page (No 15) [2003] NSWSC 939 Roach v Page (No 27) [2003] NSWSC 1046 Texts Cited: Odgers, Uniform Evidence Law (2010), 9th Ed, Thompson Reuters, Sydney. Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: National Telecoms Group Ltd (Plaintiff) John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: B McClintock SC & C H Withers (Plaintiff) T Blackburn SC & P Silver (Defendant) Gilbert & Tobin (Plaintiff) Freehills (Defendant) File Number(s): 2002/69417