Falk v Finlay [1999] NSWSC 1284

Falk v Finlay [1999] NSWSC 1284

The defendants failed to comply with discovery obligations under the Court's orders by not producing certain handwritten notes and schedules. Their reliance solely on relevance rather than adhering strictly to the wording of Court orders, and errors in the discovery process, rendered discovery incomplete. The Court ordered a further, properly conducted process of discovery.

Parties
Plaintiff: Michael Falk; Defendant: Ronald Arthur Finlay; Defendant: Edward Bertram Cowpe; Defendant: Francis Reginald Lawson; Defendant: John Gregory McCombe; Defendant: Roderick Hamilton McGeoch; Defendant: Allan John Macdonald; Defendant: Frederick John Kehoe; Defendant: Richard Kay Liebmann; Defendant: Paul Richard McCann; Defendant: Alexander John Munton; Defendant: Geoffrey Hungerford Pike; Defendant: Andrew Lee Price; Defendant: Anthony John Sheehan; Defendant: Peter William Damian Smith; Defendant: Andrew Wentworth Stevenson; Defendant: Stuart David Westgarth; Defendant: Patrick Bill Williams; Defendant: Jennifer Margaret Boland; Defendant: Carmen Champion; Defendant: Charles Macquarie Cowper; Defendant: Graeme John Dennis; Defendant: Michael John Ellis; Defendant: Julian Maxwell Gregory; Defendant: John Henry Herron; Defendant: William John Koeck; Defendant: Paul Harry Huges; Defendant: Andrew John Lumsden; Defendant: Peter Thomas Pether; Defendant: Erica Jane Robinson; Defendant: Stephen Price
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
24 December 1999
Procedural Posture
Application for Further Discovery in Equity Proceedings / Interlocutory (discovery Dispute Before Final Judgment)
Outcome
Application for further discovery and other orders succeeds.
Legal Topics
Discovery, Relevance of Documents, Affidavit of Discovery, Production of Documents, Practice and Procedure
Civil Procedure Discovery Relevance of Documents Affidavit of Discovery Production of Documents Practice and Procedure

Case Brief

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Parties

Michael Falk

Plaintiff

Ronald Arthur Finlay

Defendant

Edward Bertram Cowpe

Defendant

Francis Reginald Lawson

Defendant

John Gregory McCombe

Defendant

Roderick Hamilton McGeoch

Defendant

Allan John Macdonald

Defendant

Frederick John Kehoe

Defendant

Richard Kay Liebmann

Defendant

Paul Richard McCann

Defendant

Alexander John Munton

Defendant

Geoffrey Hungerford Pike

Defendant

Andrew Lee Price

Defendant

Anthony John Sheehan

Defendant

Peter William Damian Smith

Defendant

Andrew Wentworth Stevenson

Defendant

Stuart David Westgarth

Defendant

Patrick Bill Williams

Defendant

Jennifer Margaret Boland

Defendant

Carmen Champion

Defendant

Charles Macquarie Cowper

Defendant

Graeme John Dennis

Defendant

Michael John Ellis

Defendant

Julian Maxwell Gregory

Defendant

John Henry Herron

Defendant

William John Koeck

Defendant

Paul Harry Huges

Defendant

Andrew John Lumsden

Defendant

Peter Thomas Pether

Defendant

Erica Jane Robinson

Defendant

Stephen Price

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Application for Further Discovery in Equity Proceedings / Interlocutory (discovery Dispute Before Final Judgment)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the defendants' discovery was inadequate and incomplete
  2. 2 Whether relevance limits the scope of orders for specific discovery
  3. 3 Whether the affidavit of discovery is conclusive and under what conditions further discovery may be ordered

Ratio Decidendi

The defendants failed to comply with discovery obligations under the Court's orders by not producing certain handwritten notes and schedules. Their reliance solely on relevance rather than adhering strictly to the wording of Court orders, and errors in the discovery process, rendered discovery incomplete. The Court ordered a further, properly conducted process of discovery.

Court Disposition

Application for further discovery and other orders succeeds.

Orders

  • Further process of discovery to be undertaken by the defendants, including a proper general review of documents according to correct legal principles.
  • Affidavits to be filed detailing steps taken to comply with discovery orders and any additional discoverable documents to be brought forward.