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[2007] FCA 1756
Federal Court of Australia
2007-11-14
Ryan J, Heerey J
Original judgment source is linked above.
VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY VID 1301 OF 2006
BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITON AND CONSUMER COMMISSION
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 On 9 May 2007 Ryan J made orders granting injunctions based on findings of contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) against the respondents: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Nuera Health Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) [2007] FCA 695. The conduct of the respondents was of the most appalling nature. It involved exploiting the families of persons suffering from terminal cancer and defrauding them of substantial amounts of money. 2 Since Ryan J's order the respondents have persistently harassed the witnesses by sending them strange documents couched in pseudo-legal medieval language, including demands for some $294 million. Understandably, this has caused great distress to the witnesses and has revived their tragic memories. 3 The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission now seeks injunctions against those of the respondents who are individuals, that is, Paul John Rana, Christopher James Rana and Michael Lee Rana, to restrain them from communicating in any form whatsoever with the witnesses in relation to the subject matter of the proceeding or any other legal proceeding, from sending them documents of the kind mentioned and from demanding any payment of money from the witnesses. 4 The jurisdiction to make such an order is undoubted. The Court will protect witnesses who have given evidence from subsequent victimisation or harassment: see Attorney-General v Butterworth [1963] 1 QB 696. This position has been followed in many jurisdictions including Victoria: see R v Wright (No1) [1968] VR 164. 5 Only the sixth and respondents, Paul and Christopher Rana, have been served so the injunctions sought will be granted against those respondents. It must be clearly understood - and I direct that a copy of these reasons be served with the order - that any breach of this injunction will be treated as a most serious contempt of this court and will be likely to result in a substantial term of imprisonment. I certify that the preceding five (5) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Heerey.
Solicitor for the Applicant: Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Counsel for the Respondent: There was no appearance for any respondent
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Nuera Health Pty Ltd