Materanzi and Suskain

In the matter of *Materanzi and Suskain*, Forrest J of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia considered an application by the Mother for an adjournment of a final hearing. The dispute concerned family law matters, and the court was tasked with determining whether to grant the adjournment and how to manage the subsequent procedural steps and costs.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the Mother's oral application for an adjournment of the final hearing. Additionally, the court needed to decide on the Father's application for costs thrown away by the adjournment, and whether to refer certain conduct of the Mother's solicitor, Ms F of F Law Firm, to the Law Society of New South Wales.

Forrest J granted the Mother's application for an adjournment, listing the matter for a five-day final hearing commencing on 21 March 2011 before Stevenson J. Directions were made for the filing and service of evidence by both parties, with specific deadlines set. The Father's application for costs was adjourned to 16 February 2011, with directions for affidavits to be filed by the Mother and Ms F. Crucially, Ms F was to be given an opportunity to show cause why the court should not refer her conduct to the Law Society of New South Wales concerning the termination of her retainer and her failure to comply with a previous court order to produce documents. The Mother was also ordered to provide copies of certain emails to the Father's legal representative.