Adler v Ludlam; Adler v Waters

In the High Court of Australia, the plaintiff, Mr Adler, commenced proceedings against the defendants, Mr Ludlam and Mr Waters, seeking relief under the *Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975* (Cth). The defendants applied to strike out the statements of claim, arguing they failed to disclose a cause of action, or alternatively, sought a stay or dismissal of the proceedings.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether the plaintiff's statements of claim, as filed, disclosed a valid cause of action under the *Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975* (Cth). The Court also considered the plaintiff's subsequent application for leave to file an amended statement of claim.

The Court dismissed each proceeding, applying rule 27.09.4 of the *High Court Rules 2004* (Cth). The reasoning for this dismissal, as indicated by the Court's decision to publish its reasons, was that the initial statements of claim did not disclose a cause of action. The plaintiff was ordered to pay the defendants' costs in each matter.