Tate v Duncan-Strelec [2014] NSWSC 1125

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tate v Duncan-Strelec [2014] NSWSC 1125 Hearing dates: 14, 15, 16 and 17 July 2014 Decision date: 20 August 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Bergin CJ in Eq Decision: Defendant guilty of contempt of Court in respect of Charges 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the Statement of Charge. Catchwords: [CONTEMPT] - where two local government politicians fall out in respect of a failed joint venture agreement - where court proceedings in respect of the joint venture concluded - where unsuccessful party publishes material on the Internet claiming that the successful party is a "criminal" - whether party publishing the material actuated to exact a reprisal because the other party successfully defended proceedings - whether the law of contempt applies to conduct where proceedings have concluded. [CONTEMPT] - where admissions of deletion of emails after service of a Notice to Produce. [CONTEMPT] - whether publication of material on websites scandalises the Court. [CONTEMPT] - where allegations of breach of implied undertaking - where publication of affidavits served but not deployed in proceedings at time of publication on the Internet. Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: A v British Broadcasting Corporation [2014] UKSC 25; [2014] 2 WLR 1243 Ainsworth v Hanrahan (1991) 25 NSWLR 155 Attorney-General v Butterworth [1963] 1 QB 696 Attorney-General v Hislop [1991] 1 QB 514 Attorney-General v Times Newspapers Limited [1973] 1 QB 710 Attorney-General v Times Newspapers Limited [1974] AC 273 Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union & Ors v Mudginberri Station Pty Limited (1986) 161 CLR 98 Clarkson v The Mandarin Club Limited (1998) 90 FCR 354 Re Colina; Ex parte Torney (1999) 200 CLR 386 Dallas v Ledger (1888) 52 JP 328 Duncan-Strelec v Tate [2008] NSWSC 1145 Duncan-Strelec v Tate [2009] NSWSC 112 Duncan-Strelec v Tate [2010] NSWSC 872 Dunn v Bevan [1922] 1 Ch 276 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Plowman (1995) 183 CLR 10 Fairfax Digital Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd v Ibrahim [2012] NSWCCA 125; (2012) 293 ALR 384 Harkianakis v Skalkos (1997) 42 NSWLR 22 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125 Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd v Timania Pty Ltd [2005] FCAFC 155; (2005) 221 ALR 823 James v Robinson (1963) 109 CLR 593 Jones v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2010] FCAFC 136; (2010) 189 FCR 390 Kelly & Company v Pole & Ors (1895) 11 Times LR 405 Metzler v Gounod (1874) 30 LTR 264 Moore v Clerk of Assize, Bristol [1972] 1 All ER 58 R v Dunbabin; Ex parte Williams (1935) 53 CLR 434 R v Gray [1900] 2 QB 36 R v Hinch [2013] VSC 520 R v Socialist Worker Printers and Publishers Ltd [1974] 3 WLR 801; [1975] 1 All ER 142 Re The Echo and Sydney Morning Herald Newspapers (1883) 4 NSWR 237 Tate v Duncan-Strelec [2013] NSWSC 1446 Timania Pty Ltd v Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 732 Tim Barr Pty Ltd v Narui Gold Coast Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 533 Westpac Banking Corporation v Burke [2011] NSWSC 549 Williams v Lyons (1723) 8 Mod Rep 189 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 X v Australian Prudential Regulation Authority [2007] HCA 4; (2007) 226 CLR 630 Yeshiva Properties No 1 Pty Ltd v Lubavitch Mazal Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 775 Texts Cited: Nigel Lowe and Brenda Sufrin, Borrie & Lowe: The Law of Contempt (1996, Butterworths, 3rd ed) Robertson (ed), Oswald's Contempt of Court, Committal, Attachment, and Arrest Upon Civil Process (1910, Butterworth, 3rd ed) Law Commission, Criminal Law - Offences Relating to Interference with the Course of Justice (Report No 96, 1979) Report of the Committee on Contempt of Court (1979, Cmnd 5794) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Thomas Richard Tate (Plaintiff) Amanda Duncan-Strelec (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: BR McClintock SC/ GR Rubagotti (Plaintiff) Amanda Duncan-Strelec (In person) Solicitors: Hickey Lawyers (Plaintiff) File Number(s): 2013/367092 Publication restriction: Nil