Lowery v Insurance Australia Ltd [2015] NSWCA 303

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lowery v Insurance Australia Ltd [2015] NSWCA 303 Hearing dates: 10 September 2015 Decision date: 30 September 2015 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Emmett JA at [29]; Adamson J at [55] Decision: 1 Grant leave to appeal.

2 Allow the appeal and set aside the orders made by the District Court on 29 January 2015.

3 In place of those orders, set aside the following parts of the subpoenas issued by the respondent on 3 November 2014 to:

(a) the Commissioner, New South Wales Police Force – schedule, paragraphs 1-4 and 6;

(b) the Proper Officer, Roads and Maritime Services – schedule, paragraph 2;

(c) the Proper Officer, Vodafone Australia – the whole schedule;

(d) the Proper Officer, Optus Mobile Pty Ltd – the whole schedule, and

(e) the Proper Officer, Telstra – the whole schedule.

4 Order that the respondent pay the applicants' costs of the motion in the District Court.

5 Order that the respondent pay the applicants' costs in this Court. Catchwords: PROCEDURE – subpoenas – principles relating to the scope of subpoenas – whether subpoenas constituted a "fishing expedition" – whether subpoenas served a legitimate forensic purpose – no defence alleging fraud – identifying scope of available challenges to plaintiff's case

APPEAL – interlocutory – application for leave – appeal from dismissal of application to set aside subpoenas – restraint in exercise of appellate review of decisions of practice and procedure – whether discretion miscarried Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 296-299D District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127(2)(a) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 102, 103, 106 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 15.3 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Phillip Morris Inc [1981] HCA 39; 148 CLR 170 Be Financial Pty Ltd atf Be Financial Operations Trust v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 Commissioner for Railways v Small (1938) 38 SR(NSW) 564 Commissioner of Police v Hughes [2009] NSWCA 306 Hammoud Brothers Pty Ltd v Insurance Australia Ltd [2004] NSWCA 366; (2005) 13 ANZ Ins Cas 61-639 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Office [1983] 1 AC 280 Hearne v Street [2008] HCA 36; 235 CLR 125 Jaycar Pty Ltd v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 Liristis v Gadelrabb [2009] NSWSC 441 Morris v Handley [2001] NSWCA 374 Spencer Motors Pty Ltd v LNC Industries Ltd [1982] 2 NSWLR 921 Waind v Hill and National Employers' Mutual General Association Ltd [1978] 1 NSWLR 372 Wong v Sklavos [2014] FCAFC 120 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Joseph Brian Lowery (First Applicant) Paula Louise Lowery (Second Applicant) Insurance Australia Ltd (ABN 11 000 016 722) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Fernon (Applicants) A Ahmad (Respondent)