McLachlan v Whelan Browne [2019] NSWSC 514

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: McLachlan v Whelan Browne [2019] NSWSC 514 Hearing dates: 21 September 2018 Date of orders: 21 September 2018 Decision date: 07 May 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Motions setting aside subpoenas dismissed.

(2) In relation to all subpoenas except to Tracey Spicer

(a) Subpoena paragraph 1 amended by deleting words "and/or evidencing";

(b) Subpoena paragraph 2 allowed;

(c) Subpoena paragraph 3 amended by inserting "(i.e. metadata)" after "records";

(d) Subpoena paragraph 4 allowed, including in the subpoena to Tim Maddren;

(e) Subpoena paragraph 5 allowed;

(f) Subpoena paragraph 6 allowed.

(3) In relation to the subpoena to Tracey Spicer, subpoena allowed subject to deleting "and/or evidencing".

(4) The Applicants shall pay the Plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the motions. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – subpoenas – objection to terms – motion to strike out in part – "fishing" – adjectivally relevant – use of the term "evidencing" – motion dismissed – some alterations effected Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Lindsay-Owen v HWL Ebsworth Lawyers [2017] NSWSC 1692 One.Tel Ltd (in liq) - SingTel Optus Pty Ltd v Weston [2010] NSWSC 1491 Portal Software v Bodsworth [2005] NSWSC 1115 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Craig McLachlan (Plaintiff/Respondent) Christie Whelan Browne (First Defendant) Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (Second Defendant) Tim Maddren (First Applicant) Erika Heynatz (Second Applicant) Sophie Norfolk (Third Applicant) The person referred to in the headings above paragraphs 53 and 62 in the Confidential Annexure (Fourth Applicant) Angela Scundi (Fifth Applicant) Tracey Spicer (Sixth Applicant) Representation: Counsel: P Richardson (Plaintiff/Respondent) L Barnett (Defendants) M Cowden (Applicants)