Tavcol Pty Ltd v Valbeet Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1002

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tavcol Pty Ltd v Valbeet Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1002 Hearing dates: 15 July 2016 Date of orders: 21 July 2016 Decision date: 21 July 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: McDougall J Decision: Each party's claim for access to documents upheld with costs. Costs to be set off. Catchwords: PROCEDURE – notices of motion – both parties seeking access to claimed privileged material produced under subpoena by third parties – client legal privilege – where objection taken by legal representatives, not parties that produced the documents – whether Evidence Act or common law applies – "dominant purpose" test – whether evidence justifies the claim for privilege Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Southcorp Ltd (2003) 46 ACSR 438 Carbotech-Australia Pty Ltd v Yates [2008] NSWSC 1151 Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 Hancock v Rinehart (Privilege) [2016] NSWSC 12 Hartogen Energy Ltd v Australian Gas Light Co (1992) 36 FCR 557 Mitsubishi Electric Australia Pty Ltd v Victorian Workcover Authority (2002) 4 VR 332 Natuna Pty Ltd v Cook [2006] NSWSC 1367 New Cap Reinsurance Corporation Ltd (In Liq) v Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd [2007] NSWSC 258 Ryder v Frohlich [2005] NSWSC 1342 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Weston (2011) 81 NSWLR 526 State of New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation [2011] NSWCA 60 Sydney Airports Corporation Ltd v Singapore Airlines Ltd [2005] NSWCA 47 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Tavcol Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) (2013/144338) Valbeet Pty Ltd (Defendant) Tavcol Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) (2012/373706) Batroon Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) Simion Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff) Valbeet Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Painter SC / R Notley (Plaintiffs) D S Weinberger / A F Knox (Defendant)