Khoury v Kirwan (No 5)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE

COMMON LAW DIVISION

MAJOR TORTS LIST

S ECI 2020 01434

ELIE KHOURY	Plaintiff
v
DAVID KIRWAN	Defendant

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JUDGE:	Ierodiaconou AsJ
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	31 May 2021
DATE OF RULING:	5 August 2021
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Khoury v Kirwan (No 5)
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2021] VSC 460

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PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Subpoena objections – Subpoenas issued to health care providers, doctor and the Medical Council of New South Wales – Whether classes of documents sought are too broad or lack relevance - Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria v CFA (discovery ruling) [2016] VSC 537 – Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2018) 359 ALR 473 – Wilson v Bauer Media (Ruling No 4) [2017] VSC 354 – Duma v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited [2020] FCA 1792 – Tabe v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1987) A Def R 50-025 - Objections on the basis of breadth and relevance are allowed.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiff	Ms G L Schoff QC with Ms H Jager	Litton Legal
For the Defendant	Mr E Batrouney	Kennedys
For a Non-Party	Mr I Chatterjee	Health Care Complaints Commission

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary.............................................................................................................................................. 1

Alleged Defamatory Imputations................................................................................................... 1

Defence................................................................................................................................................. 5

General submissions......................................................................................................................... 6

Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................... 6
Not relevant; no forensic purpose....................................................................... 6
Amended Defence.................................................................................................. 9

Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 12
Amended statement of claim.............................................................................. 14

Dr Khoury’s submissions in reply.................................................................................. 15

Applicable Principles...................................................................................................................... 16

AHPRA subpoena............................................................................................................................ 20

Class 1........................................................................................................................................... 20
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 20
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 21
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 21

Class 2........................................................................................................................................... 22
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 23
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 23
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 23

Class 3........................................................................................................................................... 23
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 24
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 24
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 24

Medical Council of New South Wales subpoena...................................................................... 25

Class 1........................................................................................................................................... 25
Class 2........................................................................................................................................... 25
Class 3........................................................................................................................................... 25

Albury Wodonga Health subpoena.............................................................................................. 25

Class 1........................................................................................................................................... 26
Submissions........................................................................................................................ 26
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 26

Ramsay Health Care Australia Pty Ltd subpoena..................................................................... 27

Class 1........................................................................................................................................... 27
Submissions........................................................................................................................ 28
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 28

Class 2........................................................................................................................................... 29
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 30
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 30
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 30

Class 3........................................................................................................................................... 30
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 30
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 30
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 31

Class 6........................................................................................................................................... 31
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 31
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 31
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 31

Class 7........................................................................................................................................... 32
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 32
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 32
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 32

Class 8........................................................................................................................................... 32
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 33
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 33
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 33

Class 9........................................................................................................................................... 33
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 33
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 34
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 34

Class 10......................................................................................................................................... 34
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 34
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 34
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 34

Class 11......................................................................................................................................... 34
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 34
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 35
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 35

Dr Omar Khorshid subpoena........................................................................................................ 35

Class 1........................................................................................................................................... 35
Dr Khoury’s submissions................................................................................................. 35
Dr Kirwan’s submissions................................................................................................. 35
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 36

Class 2........................................................................................................................................... 36
Submissions........................................................................................................................ 36
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 36

Class 3........................................................................................................................................... 36
Submissions........................................................................................................................ 36
Analysis............................................................................................................................... 36

Conclusion......................................................................................................................................... 36

HER HONOUR:

This ruling follows an earlier one relating to the same summons and subpoenas: Khoury v Kirwan (No 3).[1] As will be recalled, in this proceeding one orthopaedic…

Khoury v Kirwan (No 5) was a case in the Supreme Court of Victoria where the primary issue was the validity of subpoenas issued to various health care providers, a doctor, and the Medical Council of New South Wales. The subpoenas sought extensive classes of documents, which the respondents argued were too broad and irrelevant to the proceedings. The respondents contested the subpoenas on the basis that they sought documents that were not pertinent to the issues at hand, and that the scope of the documents was excessively wide, potentially causing unnecessary burden and expense.

The court had to determine whether the subpoenas were properly tailored to the issues in dispute, and whether they imposed an unjustifiable burden on the respondents. This involved balancing the need for relevant information against the potential for overreach and inconvenience. The court referred to several precedents, including Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria v CFA (discovery ruling) [2016] VSC 537, Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2018) 359 ALR 473, Wilson v Bauer Media (Ruling No 4) [2017] VSC 354, Duma v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited [2020] FCA 1792, and Tabe v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1987) A Def R 50-025. These cases provided guidance on the principles of relevance and proportionality in subpoena applications.

In its reasoning, the court found that the subpoenas were indeed too broad and sought documents that were largely irrelevant to the proceedings. The court emphasised that subpoenas must be narrowly tailored to the issues in the case, and should not impose an unreasonable burden on the respondents. As a result, the court allowed the objections on the basis of both breadth and relevance. This decision aligns with the principles established in the cited cases, which underscore the importance of proportionality and relevance in the issuance of subpoenas. The court’s ruling was grounded in the need to protect respondents from unnecessary intrusion and expense while ensuring that relevant information is available for the fair resolution of the case.

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CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established