GWA P/L v Russo; Thornton v Russo

In the Federal Court of Australia, GWA P/L and Thornton brought defamation actions against Russo. Both primary judges dismissed the actions for want of prosecution. The applicants sought leave to appeal against those orders. The court considered the principles governing appeals from interlocutory orders and the requirements for leave to appeal. The court noted that the primary judges had comprehensively considered the relevant factors and exercised their discretion to dismiss the actions. The applicants failed to demonstrate that the primary judges erred in their approach or that the orders were plainly wrong or unjust. Consequently, the applications for leave to appeal were dismissed with costs. The court emphasised the importance of adhering to procedural requirements and the need for applicants to establish a compelling case for leave to appeal.