O'Shane v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 93

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: O'Shane v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 93 Hearing dates: 6 February 2014 Decision date: 20 February 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: (1) The subpoena dated 12 December 2013 addressed to the Judicial Commission of New South Wales be set aside other than to the extent it seeks documents in relation to any complaint: (a) concerning the plaintiff's conduct of the nine cases particularised in paragraph 10 of the Further Amended Defence filed 30 November 2012; (b) concerning the plaintiff's conduct of the proceedings the subject of the appeal in Jordan v O'Shane [2000] NSWSC 831; and (c) concerning the plaintiff that was the subject of a hearing in the Conduct Division of the Judicial Commission on or about 18 December 2012. (2) The notice of motion filed by the Judicial Commission on 17 January 2014 be otherwise dismissed. (3) The notice of motion filed by the plaintiff on 24 January 2014 be otherwise dismissed. (4) Extend the time for compliance by the Judicial Commission with the subpoena dated 12 December 2013 to 18 March 2014 at 9:00am. (5) The parties have liberty to apply. Catchwords: DEFAMATION- application to set aside subpoena addressed to Judicial Commission of NSW - documents regarding complaints against judicial officer - Judicial Officers Act 1986 (NSW) - no blanket exemption from production of documents concerning judicial officers - hearsay material indicating complaints against plaintiff - defence of substantial truth - pleading of aggravated damages by reference to falsity of imputations - whether subpoenaed documents have legitimate forensic purpose - "fishing expedition" - "on the cards" test - Alister v R (1984) 154 CLR 404 - class of documents sought by subpoena too wide - subpoena set aside in part. Legislation Cited: - Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 91 - Judicial Officers Act 1986 (NSW), Division 3, Part 6, s 5, s 15, s 16(1), s 17, s 18, s 20, s 21, s 22, s 23, s 24, s 25, s 26, s 29, s 37, s 44B Cases Cited: - Ainsworth v Burden [2005] NSWCA 174 - Alister v R [1984] HCA 85; 154 CLR 404 - Attorney General for New South Wales v Chidgey [2008] NSWCCA 65 - Beran v Channel Seven Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 272 - Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Elskaf [2012] NSWSC 21 - Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Lee [2006] NSWSC 270 - Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Neamati [2007] NSWSC 746 - Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Wililo [2012] NSWSC 713 - Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Yeo [2008] NSWSC 953 - Habib v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 34; 76 NSWLR 299 - ICAP Australia Pty Ltd v BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 307 - Jordan v O'Shane [2000] NSWSC 831 - McCormack v Langham (Supreme Court (NSW), Studdert J, 5 September 1991 unrep) - National Employers' Mutual General Insurance Association Ltd v Waind [1978] 1 NSWLR 372 - O'Shane v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 315 - O'Shane v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 140 - Peters v Asplund [2008] NSWSC 1061 - Portal Software International Pty Ltd v Bodsworth [2005] NSWSC 1115 - R v Kanaan [2006] NSWSC 539 - R v Saleam [1999] NSWCCA 86 - Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW v Conolly [2003] NSWSC 327; 57 NSWLR 310 - Tabe v Amalgamated TV Services (Court of Appeal (NSW), 7 December 1987, unrep) Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Patricia June O'Shane (Plaintiff) Harbour Radio Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Alan Belford Jones (Second Defendant) Judicial Commission of New South Wales (Interested party) Representation: Solicitors: McLachlan Thorpe (Plaintiff) Banki Haddock Fiora (Defendants) I.V. Knight, Crown Solicitor (Interested party) File Number(s): 2011/250818