Smith v Australian Executor Trustees Limited; Creighton v Australian Executor Trustees Limited (No. 4) [2018] NSWSC 1584

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v Australian Executor Trustees Limited; Creighton v Australian Executor Trustees Limited (No. 4) [2018] NSWSC 1584 Hearing dates: 2 October 2018 Decision date: 23 October 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ball J Decision: Settlement approved. See orders [100] – [101] of this judgment Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Representative proceedings – Settlement or discontinuance – Court approval – Reasonableness of total amounts – Reasonableness of legal costs – Reasonableness of funding fee – Reasonableness between group members – Group members' objections to class definition – Confidentiality of material supporting settlement approval application Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (Vic) Cases Cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) v Chats House Investments Pty Ltd (1996) 71 FCR 250 Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (Recs & Mgrs Apptd (In Liq) (No 3) (2017) 343 ALR 476 Courtney v Medtel Pty Limited (No 5) (2004) 212 ALR 311; [2004] FCA 1406 Darwalla Milling Co Pty Ltd v F Hoffman-La Roche Ltd (2006) 236 ALR 322; [2006] FCA 1388 Downie v Spiral Foods Pty Ltd [2015] VSC 190 Hungerfords v Walker (1989) 171 CLR 125 Johnston v Endeavour Energy [2016] NSWSC 1132 King v Liverpool City Council (No. 3) [2018] NSWSC 1047 Matthews v SPI Electricity and SPI Electricity Pty Ltd v Utility Services Corporation Ltd (Ruling No 16) [2013] VSC 74 Mercieca v SPI Electricity Pty Ltd; SPI Electricity Pty Ltd v Eagle Travel Tower Services Pty Ltd [2012] VSC 204 Modtech Engineering Pty Ltd v GPT Management Holdings Ltd [2013] FCA 626 Modtech Engineering Pty Ltd v GPT Management Holdings Limited (No 2) [2013] FCA 1163 Money Max Int Pty Ltd (Trustee) v QBE Insurance Group Ltd (2016) 245 FCR 191; [2016] FCAFC 148 Oztech Pty Ltd v Public Trustee of Queensland (No 15) [2018] FCA 819 Pharm-a-care Laboratories Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (No 6) [2011] FCA 277 Rowe v AusNet Electricity Services Pty Ltd [2015] VSC 232 Smith v Australian Executor Trustees Limited; Creighton v Australian Executor Trustees Limited [2016] NSWSC 17 Thomas v Powercor Australia Ltd [2011] VSC 614 Wheelahan v City of Casey [2011] VSC 215 Wingecarribee Shire Council v Lehman Brothers Australia Ltd (in liq) (No 9) [2013] FCA 1350 Texts Cited: "Inquiry into Class Action Proceedings and Third-Party Litigation Funders", DP 85, June 2018, The Australian Law Reform Commission Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Smith and Rosemary Smith (Plaintiffs 2015/171592) Innes Creighton (Plaintiff 2015/306222) Australian Executor Trustees Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: AS Martin SC with GM Drew (Plaintiffs 2015/171592) A Coleman SC with J McDonald and DJ Snyder (Plaintiffs 2015/306222) M Darke SC with S Lawrance (Defendant)