Page v Rankine
[2020] NSWSC 902
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Supreme Court of NSW
Decision date
2020-07-15
Before
Ward CJ, Hallen J
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (7 paragraphs)
EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT
- HER HONOUR: This is an application by notice of motion filed on 23 June 2020 by the executor, James Michael Page, of the estate of the deceased, the late John Rankine, seeking two kinds of relief: first, that a notice to produce to Court issued by the defendant to the plaintiff and dated 12 June 2020 be set aside; second, orders pursuant to ss 61 and/or 63 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) (Civil Procedure Act) that the notice of motion filed by the defendant on 15 June 2020 be set aside with liberty to the defendant to file an amended notice of motion limited in two respects (as set out in prayer 1 of the orders sought in the notice of motion).
- I interpose here to note that there was no appearance by or on behalf of the defendant in the virtual courtroom on the hearing of the application. However, I was satisfied that the defendant was aware of the application, and that it was listed for hearing before me today, and I proceeded to hear it pursuant to r 18.7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) (UCPR). I considered it appropriate to proceed to hear the application in the absence of the defendant, in circumstances where the defendant was on notice of the application and it was difficult to imagine, having regard to the text of the notice to produce and the 15 June 2020 notice of motion, any argument that the defendant could sensibly or credibly maintain to sustain either the notice to produce or the (respective) notice(s) of motion (which should be set aside for the reasons set out below).
- On the application, the executor has read two affidavits sworn by him (those being affidavits of 17 December 2019 and 23 June 2020); and an affidavit of service of John Larue sworn 16 June 2018 (as to service of notice by the executor calling on the defendant to take procedures within three months of service to prosecute claims related to the estate). Reference is also made to the summons dated 20 December 2019 and the notice to produce issued by the defendant has been tendered as an exhibit. I have also had regard to the affidavits filed by the defendant in the proceedings.