Pearce v International Mining Technologies Ltd

[2009] WASC 120

JURISDICTION     :   SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

IN CHAMBERS

CITATION:   PEARCE -v- INTERNATIONAL MINING TECHNOLOGIES LTD [2009] WASC 120

CORAM:   BEECH J

HEARD:   ON THE PAPERS

DELIVERED          :   8 MAY 2009

FILE NO/S:   CIV 2046 of 2007

Consolidated with CIV 1268 of 2008 and CIV 1770 of 2008 by orders dated 26 March 2008 and 8 December 2008

BETWEEN:   ALAN FRANCIS PEARCE

First Plaintiff

TODD ANDREW PEARCE
Second Plaintiff

AND

INTERNATIONAL MINING TECHNOLOGIES LTD (ACN 088 606 464)
Defendant

AND BETWEEN

INTERNATIONAL MINING TECHNOLOGIES LTD (ACN 088 606 464)
First Plaintiff by Counterclaim

RD CATELAN INVESTMENTS PTY LTD (ACN 110 631 500)
Second Plaintiff by Counterclaim

AND

ALAN FRANCIS PEARCE
First Defendant by Counterclaim

TODD ANDREW PEARCE
Second Defendant by Counterclaim

CONSOLIDATED   :  CIV 1268 of 2008

WITH

:A & T PEARCE PTY LTD (ACN 093 787 369)

Plaintiff

INTERNATIONAL MINING TECHNOLOGIES LTD (ACN 008 606 464)
Defendant

Catchwords:

Practice and procedure - Application for further particulars - Turns on own facts

Legislation:

Nil

Result:

Application for further particulars dismissed

Category:    B

Representation:

CIV 2046 of 2007

Consolidated with CIV 1268 of 2008 and CIV 1770 of 2008 by orders dated 26 March 2008 and 8 December 2008

Counsel:

First Plaintiff               :        No appearance

Second Plaintiff               :        No appearance

Defendant:        No appearance

First Plaintiff by Counterclaim     :        No appearance

Second Plaintiff by Counterclaim    :        No appearance

First Defendant by Counterclaim :    No appearance

Second Defendant by Counterclaim :        No appearance

Solicitors:

First Plaintiff               :        Michael McPhee

Second Plaintiff               :        Michael McPhee

Defendant:        Tottle Partners

First Plaintiff by Counterclaim     :        Tottle Partners

Second Plaintiff by Counterclaim    :        Tottle Partners

First Defendant by Counterclaim :    Michael McPhee

Second Defendant by Counterclaim :        Michael McPhee

CIV 1268 of 2008

Counsel:

Plaintiff:     No appearance

Defendant:     No appearance

Solicitors:

Plaintiff:     Michael McPhee

Defendant:     Tottle Partners

Case(s) referred to in judgment(s):

Nil

BEECH J: 

Introduction

1. By chamber summons dated 20 March 2009 the plaintiffs apply for an order that the defendant give particulars of par 67 of its amended defence and counterclaim.  I will identify the further particulars sought once I have put the application into the context of the pleadings in the action and an earlier interlocutory hearing. 

2. Throughout this decision I will refer to Mr Alan Pearce, Mr Todd Pearce and A & T Pearce Pty Ltd as the plaintiffs, and to International Mining Technologies Pty Ltd as the defendant.

The pleadings

1. The defendant pleads at par 29 of its defence and counterclaim that, at all material times prior to 31 July 2007:

   (a)both of the plaintiffs were directors and in senior management of the defendant;

   (b)the defendant carried on a business developing and attempting to commercialise a technology known as the Collision Avoidance System, which is designed to prevent or reduce collisions between vehicles and equipment used in the mining industry. 

2. Paragraphs 57 to 73 of the defence and counterclaim relate to an AusIndustry grant.  Paragraph 57 pleads that in August 2004, the second plaintiff completed, with the knowledge and consent…