Medapati and Revanka (No. 3)

In *Medapati and Revanka (No. 3)*, Forrest J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered allegations of contempt of court brought by the wife against the husband. The dispute centred on the husband's alleged contravention of previous court orders concerning the disposal of property, failure to provide disclosure, and the continuation of foreign legal proceedings.

The court was required to determine whether the husband had acted in contempt of court by selling or disposing of specified real property and a motor vehicle in contravention of orders made on 21 April 2017. Further issues included whether the husband had failed to make proper disclosure and provide documents as requested by the wife's solicitors, failed to deliver a motor vehicle to the wife, and continued proceedings in a foreign court contrary to orders made on 17 May 2017. The court also had to assess whether these actions constituted a flagrant challenge to the authority of the court.

Forrest J found that the husband had indeed acted in contempt of court in relation to each of the alleged contraventions, determining that his conduct involved a flagrant challenge to the court's authority. The court declared the husband in contempt for selling property and a vehicle contrary to orders, failing to provide disclosure, failing to deliver a motor vehicle, and continuing foreign proceedings.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned for further hearing on 12 December 2018 to consider submissions on the appropriate punishment for the contempt, the wife's costs, and the future conduct of the pending property adjustment proceedings. The husband was also ordered to return to Australia and appear before the court in person on that date.