Price Waterhouse (Reg) v Beneficial Finance Corporation Ltd, SA Asset Management Corporation, and the State of South Australia No. SCGRG 94/1289 Judgment No. 5964 Number of Pages 50 Procedure

The appeal in this matter was brought against interlocutory orders made by Olsson J. The orders required the defendant to make discovery and provide inspection of documents relating to its professional indemnity insurance, and to produce copies of certain documents relating to its insurance cover. The plaintiffs sought the orders with a view to joining the defendant's insurers as defendants in the action. The appeal was dismissed by the Full Court. The plaintiffs sought discovery of documents relating to the defendant's professional indemnity insurance to enable them to join the defendant's insurers as defendants in the action. The Court considered whether the orders were justified under the rules of court. The Full Court considered the relevant rules and their interpretation in previous decisions. The Court held that the orders were justified under the rules. The Court also considered whether the orders were justified as a matter of principle. The Court held that the orders were justified as a matter of principle, in particular as a matter of case flow management and to facilitate mediation. The Full Court was divided on the appeal. Cox and Perry JJ considered the appeal to be properly dismissed. Lander J considered the appeal to be properly allowed.