Hancock v Rinehart [2015] NSWSC 1311

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hancock v Rinehart [2015] NSWSC 1311 Hearing dates: 31 August 2015 Date of orders: 31 August 2015 Decision date: 31 August 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Brereton J Decision: Notice of motion to set aside notice to produce dismissed with costs. Catchwords: PROCEDURE – subpoenae and notices to produce – application to set aside notice to produce – where documents sought pertain to issues no longer pressed by plaintiffs –applicability of principles from Anshun v Port of Melbourne Authority Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 45; (1981) 147 CLR 589 to interlocutory applications –court's discretion – where there has been a narrowing of issues in dispute – where situations created by plaintiff's change of position of the earlier unsuccessful application – held, upholding second application inimical to administration of justice. Legislation Cited: (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 98(4) Cases Cited: Anshun v Port of Melbourne Authority Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 45; (1981) 147 CLR 589 Brimaud v Honeysett Instant Print Pty Ltd (1998) 217 ALR 44 D A Christie Pty Ltd v Baker [1996] 2 VR 582 Hancock v Rinehart [2015] NSWSC 896 Henderson v Henderson [1843] 3 Hare 100; 67 ER 317 Nominal Defendant v Manning [2000] NSWCA 80; (2000) 50 NSWLR 139 Stevenson v Garnett [1898] 1 QB 677 Wentworth v Rogers (unreported NSWSC, Sperling J, 28 April 1995) Woodhouse v Consignia Plc [2002] EWCA Civ 275; [2002] 2 All ER 737 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: John Langley Hancock (first Plaintiff) Bianca Hope Rinehart (second Plaintiff) Gina Hope Rinehart (first Defendant) Ginia Hope Frances Rinehart (second Defendant) Hope Rinehart Welker (third Defendant) Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (fourth Defendant) Hope Downs Iron Ore Pty Ltd (fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C Withers (plaintiffs) B McClintock SC (first defendant)