Frick and Lennon

In the matter of *Frick and Lennon*, Strickland J considered an application by the father to vary existing court orders concerning drug testing and the production of medical records, as well as an application by the father to issue subpoenas for those records. The mother was also required to file and serve evidence from a Mr M.

The central legal issues before the court were whether the father should be permitted to require the mother to undergo drug testing in addition to any requests made by the Independent Children’s Lawyer, and whether the father should have leave to issue subpoenas for the mother's medical records. The court also had to determine the conditions under which those records could be inspected and whether Mr M would be permitted to give evidence.

Strickland J ordered, by consent, that the father could require the mother to undergo drug testing. Leave was granted to issue subpoenas for the mother's medical records, with inspection limited to the Independent Children’s Lawyer. The mother was ordered to file and serve evidence from Mr M by a specified date, and further consideration of the inspection of medical records and Mr M's evidence was adjourned. The father's application filed on 24 May 2010 was dismissed. The proceedings were adjourned for a compliance and directions hearing and listed for a final hearing in August 2010.