Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia) Pty Ltd v Australian Meat and Live-Stock Corporation & Ors [1979] FCA 128

Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia) Pty Ltd v Australian Meat and Live-Stock Corporation & Ors [1979] FCA 128

In civil proceedings based on alleged contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 but not for the recovery of a penalty, respondents are not to be excused in limine from giving discovery or answering interrogatories; they may object to producing particular documents or answering particular questions if such would expose them to a penalty.

Parties
Applicant: Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia) Pty. Limited; First Respondent: Australian Meat and Live-Stock Corporation; Second Respondent: Associated Container Transportation (Australia) Limited; Third Respondent: Australian Shipping Commission (trading as Australian National Line); Fourth Respondent: Hamburg-Sudamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft Eggert & Amsinck (trading as Columbus Line); Fifth Respondent: Farrell Lines Inc.; Sixth Respondent: Trader Navigation Co Limited (trading as Atlanttrafik Express Service); Seventh Respondent: Roy Geoffrey Jones; Eighth Respondent: Christopher Cullen; Ninth Respondent: Nigel Tulloh; Tenth Respondent: Horst Walter Rik; Eleventh Respondent: Edgar Albert Sengelhardt; Twelfth Respondent: Peter Semmler
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
29 November 1979
Procedural Posture
Civil Application (procedural/interlocutory) / Interlocutory Decision on Discovery and Interrogatories
Outcome
Application for immunity in limine from discovery and interrogatories refused.
Legal Topics
Discovery and Interrogatories, Self Incrimination Privilege, Civil Penalty Proceedings, Trade Practices Act 1974 (cth)
Civil Procedure Trade Practices Discovery and Interrogatories Self Incrimination Privilege Civil Penalty Proceedings Trade Practices Act 1974 (cth)

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Parties

Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia) Pty. Limited

Applicant

Australian Meat and Live-Stock Corporation

First Respondent

Associated Container Transportation (Australia) Limited

Second Respondent

Australian Shipping Commission (trading as Australian National Line)

Third Respondent

Hamburg-Sudamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft Eggert & Amsinck (trading as Columbus Line)

Fourth Respondent

Farrell Lines Inc.

Fifth Respondent

Trader Navigation Co Limited (trading as Atlanttrafik Express Service)

Sixth Respondent

Roy Geoffrey Jones

Seventh Respondent

Christopher Cullen

Eighth Respondent

Nigel Tulloh

Ninth Respondent

Horst Walter Rik

Tenth Respondent

Edgar Albert Sengelhardt

Eleventh Respondent

Peter Semmler

Twelfth Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Application (procedural/interlocutory) / Interlocutory Decision on Discovery and Interrogatories

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether respondents should be excused in limine from giving discovery or answering interrogatories in proceedings seeking civil redress for alleged contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

Ratio Decidendi

In civil proceedings based on alleged contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 but not for the recovery of a penalty, respondents are not to be excused in limine from giving discovery or answering interrogatories; they may object to producing particular documents or answering particular questions if such would expose them to a penalty.

Court Disposition

Application for immunity in limine from discovery and interrogatories refused.

Orders

  • No order granting immunity in limine from discovery or interrogatories to respondents.