Waller v Waller

[2009] WASCA 61

JURISDICTION     :   SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

TITLE OF COURT :   THE COURT OF APPEAL (WA)

CITATION:   WALLER -v- WALLER [2009] WASCA 61

CORAM:   MARTIN CJ

PULLIN JA
LE MIERE AJA

HEARD:   20 OCTOBER 2008

DELIVERED          :   19 MARCH 2009

FILE NO/S:   CACV 52 of 2008

BETWEEN:   BARRY GRANVILLE WALLER

First Appellant

CHRISTINE MARGARET WALLER
Second Appellant

GERALDTON FOOD DISTRIBUTORS PTY LTD
Third Appellant

AND

CLIVE GREGORY WALLER
First Respondent

MARLENE McDONALD
Second Respondent

MICHAEL JOHN WALLER
Third Respondent

GAY CRIDDLE
Fourth Respondent

KERRY CLUNE
Fifth Respondent

ON APPEAL FROM:

Jurisdiction              :  SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Coram  :SIMMONDS J

Citation  :WALLER -v- WALLER [2008] WASC 51

File No  :CIV 1682 of 2007

Catchwords:

Appeal - Procedure - Pre-action discovery against potential parties - Whether the respondents may have a cause of action - Whether pre-action discovery should be refused because the proposed action would be struck out as an abuse of process - Whether the respondents made reasonable enquiries - Whether the appellants had or are likely to have or have had possession of documents that may assist - Whether the discretion to order discovery should be exercised - Rules of the Supreme Court 1971 (WA) O 26A r 4 - Turns on own facts

Appeal - Procedure - Whether leave to appeal required - Whether orders appealed from are interlocutory - Whether leave to appeal should be granted - Supreme Court Act 1935 (WA) s 60(1)(f) - Turns on own facts

Legislation:

Federal Court Rules 1979 (Cth), O 15A r 6(a)
Limitation Act 1935 (WA), s 47
Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 52
Rules of the Supreme Court 1971 (WA), O 26A r 3, O 26A r 4, O 26A r 5, O 26A r 6
Supreme Court Act 1935 (WA), s 60(1)(f)

Result:

Leave to appeal granted
Appeal allowed
Cross-appeal dismissed

Category:    B

Representation:

Counsel:

First Appellant               :     Mr D H Solomon

Second Appellant          :     Mr D H Solomon

Third Appellant             :     Mr D H Solomon

First Respondent           :     Mr P J Hannan

Second Respondent      :     Mr P J Hannan

Third Respondent          :     Mr P J Hannan

Fourth Respondent        :     Mr P J Hannan

Fifth Respondent           :     Mr P J Hannan

Solicitors:

First Appellant               :     Solomon Brothers

Second Appellant          :     Solomon Brothers

Third Appellant             :     Solomon Brothers

First Respondent           :     Curwood & Co Pty Ltd

Second Respondent      :     Curwood & Co Pty Ltd

Third Respondent          :     Curwood & Co Pty Ltd

Fourth Respondent        :     Curwood & Co Pty Ltd

Fifth Respondent           :     Curwood & Co Pty Ltd

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

A Hudson Pty Ltd v Legal & General Life of Australia Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 701

Airservices Australia v Transfield Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 886; (1999) 92 FCR 200

A‑Pak Plastics Pty Ltd v Merhone Pty Ltd (1995) 13 ACLC 896; (1995) 120 FLR 277

Asian Century Holdings Inc v Fleuris Pty Ltd [2000] WASCA 59

Aussie Victoriaplant Hire Pty Ltd v Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd [2007] VSCA 121;