Citrus Queensland Pty Ltd v Sunstate Orchards Pty Ltd (No 4)

[2006] FCA 1552

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Citrus Queensland Pty Ltd v Sunstate Orchards Pty Ltd (No 4) [2006] FCA 1552

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – pleadings – amendment – leave sought to further amend statement of claim – day five of two week trial

Held: Leave granted. Opening submissions not yet made. Proposed new paragraphs substantive. Material known to respondents through statements of principal witness filed some months ago. Notwithstanding lengthy delay in bringing application interests of justice require that leave be granted.

Federal Court Rules O 13 rr 2(1), 2(2)

Banque Commerciale SA (en liquidation) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279 cited
Cheers v El Davo Pty Ltd (in liq) [2000] FCA 310 cited
Clarapede & Co v Commercial Union Association (1883) 32 WR 262 followed
Gould and Birbeck and Bacon v Mount Oxide Mines Ltd (in liq) (1916) 22 CLR 490 cited
Hurley v McDonald’s Australia Ltd [1999] FCA 1728 cited
Ketteman v Hansel Properties Ltd [1987] AC 189 applied
Leotta v Public Transport Commission (NSW) (1976) 9 ALR 437 applied
State of Queensland v JL Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 146 cited

CITRUS QUEENSLAND PTY LTD (ACN 110 885 359), PETER MICHAEL TRACY AND SUNSTATE CITRUS PTY LTD (ACN 112 847 560) v SUNSTATE ORCHARDS PTY LTD (ACN 095 659 733), ANDREW COLIN STRAHLEY AND DAVID BREED
QUD 400 OF 2005

COLLIER J
16 NOVEMBER 2006
BRISBANE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY	QUD 400 OF 2005

BETWEEN:

CITRUS QUEENSLAND PTY LTD (ACN 110 885 359)
First Applicant

PETER MICHAEL TRACY
Second Applicant

SUNSTATE CITRUS PTY LTD (ACN 112 847 560)
Third Applicant

AND:

SUNSTATE ORCHARDS PTY LTD (ACN 095 659 733)
First Respondent

ANDREW COLIN STRAHLEY
Second Respondent

DAVID BREED
Third Respondent

JUDGE:	COLLIER J
DATE OF ORDER:	16 NOVEMBER 2006
WHERE MADE:	BRISBANE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The applicants be granted leave to file a further amended statement of claim in the form presented to the Court on 16 November 2006.

Note:    Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY	QUD 400 OF 2005

BETWEEN:

CITRUS QUEENSLAND PTY LTD (ACN 110 885 359)
First Applicant

PETER MICHAEL TRACY
Second Applicant

SUNSTATE CITRUS PTY LTD (ACN 112 847 560)
Third Applicant

AND:

SUNSTATE ORCHARDS PTY LTD (ACN 095 659 733)
First Respondent

ANDREW COLIN STRAHLEY
Second Respondent

DAVID BREED
Third Respondent

JUDGE:	COLLIER J
DATE:	16 NOVEMBER 2006
PLACE:	BRISBANE

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1. This morning in Court the applicants sought leave to further amend the amended statement of claim filed 16 February 2006, and to substitute a document titled ‘Further Amended Statement of Claim’. Most of the proposed amendments to this pleading are typographical corrections, with the exception of a substantive addition to par 17A.

2. Mr Bell for the respondents indicated that the respondents accepted all amendments to the proposed further amended statement of claim other than the insertion in par 17A of six new paragraphs.…