Pigozzo v Mineral Resources Ltd (No 2)

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Pigozzo v Mineral Resources Ltd (No 2) [2023] FCA 1489   

File number:

WAD 103 of 2022

Judgment of:

FEUTRILL J

Date of judgment:

28 November 2023

Catchwords:

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE  – application for leave to issue subpoenas to give evidence and produce documents returnable at an interlocutory hearing and (or) before trial – where orders made for exchange of affidavit evidence – where witness unwilling to make affidavit – whether oral evidence necessary to facilitate the just resolution of an interlocutory hearing – where pleadings not closed and statement of claim unsettled – whether issue of subpoenas to produce documents before trial premature – whether subpoenas have a legitimate forensic purpose – whether subpoenas are for non-party discovery – whether subpoenas are oppressive

Legislation:

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 97

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 31A(2)(b), 37M

Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 20.23, 24.01, 24.11, 24.12, 24.13

Cases cited:

Beecham Group Limited v Bristol Laboratories Pty Limited [1968] HCA 1; (1968) 118 CLR 618

Boston Commercial Services Pty Ltd v GE Capital Finance Australasia Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1352; (2006) 236 ALR 720

Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd v Astra Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 256; (1999) 45 IPR 144

Eng Mee Yong v Letchumanan s/o Velayutham [1980] AC 331

McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1233; (2005) 221 ALR 785

Pigozzo v Mineral Resources Ltd [2022] FCA 1166

Shercliff v Engadine Acceptance Corporation Pty Ltd [1978] 1 NSWLR 729

Division:

Fair Work Division

Registry:

Western Australia

National Practice Area:

Employment and Industrial Relations

Number of paragraphs:

26

Date of hearing:

27 November 2023

Counsel for the Applicant:

Mr J Hyde Page

Solicitor for the Applicant:

Harmers Workplace Lawyers

Counsel for the First, Second, Third and Fifth Respondents:

Mr S Penglis SC

Solicitor for the First Second, Third and Fifth Respondents:

Bennett

Counsel for the Fourth Respondent:

Mr B Kremer SC with Mr R French

Solicitor for the Fourth Respondent:

King & Wood Mallesons

Counsel for Interested person:

Mr P Sadler

Solicitor for Interested person

HWF Australia

ORDERS

WAD 103 of 2022

BETWEEN:

STEVEN PIGOZZO

Applicant

AND:

MINERAL RESOURCES LTD (ACN 118 549 910)

First Respondent

CHRIS ELLISON

Second Respondent

LAWFIRST PTY LTD (ACN 147 622 197) (and another named in the Schedule)

Third Respondent

ORDER MADE BY:	FEUTRILL J
DATE OF ORDER:	28 NOVEMBER 2023

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The applicant’s request for leave to issue a subpoena to Mr Stephen Leslie Wyatt dated 17 November 2023 be dismissed.

2.The applicant’s request for leave to issue a subpoena to Hampton Transport Pty Ltd dated 17 November 2023, as amended orally on 27 November 2023, and the request for leave to issue a subpoena to Mr Christopher James Batten dated 17 November 2023, be stood over until after the hearing and determination of the various interlocutory applications listed for hearing on 6 February 2024.

3.The costs of hearing the applicant’s requests to issue subpoenas on…