Porter and Porter & Ors

In *Porter and Porter & Ors*, heard by Watts J, the wife sought to reopen proceedings to adduce further evidence and issue subpoenas, while also requesting a referral to the Law Society and the destruction of a specific report, alleging a breach of section 121 of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The husband had also made an application for interim financial relief.

The central legal issues before the court were whether the interests of justice required the admission of the further evidence sought by the wife, given that much of it was available prior to the final hearing, and whether the wife's other applications, including the referral to the Law Society and the destruction of the report, should be entertained. The court also considered the husband's application for interim financial relief in the context of new final property settlement orders being made.

Watts J reasoned that while some non-controversial and materially relevant evidence was admitted, the majority of the further evidence the wife sought to lead was not sufficiently material to warrant reopening the case, nor was it likely to affect the result. The court found that admitting the wife's applications would likely prolong the litigation and cause prejudice to the other parties due to the late stage of the evidence. Consequently, the wife's applications to reopen the case and her subsequent requests were dismissed. The husband's interim application was also dismissed as it needed reconsideration in light of the final property settlement orders.