Houghton and Cotter and Anor

In the matter of Houghton and Cotter, Justice Cronin of the Supreme Court of Victoria considered applications made by the parties. The proceedings involved a dispute between the applicant and the first and second respondents, with the second respondent being joined as a party to the proceedings on this day.

The court was required to determine the procedural steps necessary for the final hearing of the matter. This included setting a timetable for the filing and service of amended applications, responses, affidavits of evidence, and financial statements by all parties. The court also needed to address the method of evidence presentation, the issuance of subpoenas, and the process for resolving objections to evidence.

Justice Cronin directed that the evidence in chief of all witnesses be given by affidavit and established a detailed timetable for the exchange of documents, commencing with the applicant filing and serving an amended application, affidavits, and financial statement by 29 August 2014. Subsequent deadlines were set for the first respondent and the second respondent to file their respective responses and affidavits. The court also ordered that all parties file a case outline by 9 October 2014, detailing the orders sought, affidavits to be read, objections to evidence, issues in dispute, and a list of assets and liabilities. The final hearing was adjourned and fixed for 13 October 2014, with provisions made for case management and potential consequences for non-compliance with the timetable.