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Court Procedures Rules
650Discovery to identify potential defendant
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650 Discovery to identify potential defendant
(a) a person (the applicant) has, or is likely to have, a cause of
action against someone (the potential defendant); and
(i) the applicant wants to start a proceeding in the court
against the potential defendant for the cause of action; or
(ii) the following provisions apply:
(A) the applicant is a party to a proceeding in the court;
(B) the potential defendant is not a party to the
(C) the applicant wants to make a claim for relief in the
proceeding against the potential defendant for the
cause of action;
(D) the claim for relief could properly have been made in
the proceeding against the potential defendant if the
potential defendant were a party; and
(c) the applicant, after making reasonable inquiries, cannot
ascertain the identity or whereabouts of the potential defendant
sufficiently to start the proceeding, or make the claim for relief,
against the potential defendant; and
(d) someone else (the other person) may have information, or may
have or have had possession of a document or thing, that tends
to assist in ascertaining the identity or whereabouts of the
potential defendant.
Note The road transport authority cannot be required to comply with a
preliminary discovery order in certain circumstances (see Road
Transport (General) Act 1999, s 236).
Preliminary discovery Division 2.8.6
Rule 650
(2) If subrule (1) (b) (i) applies, the applicant may apply to the court by
originating application for an order under this rule (and, if relevant,
an order under rule 715 (Inspection, detention, custody and
preservation of property—orders etc)) against the other person.
(3) If subrule (1) (b) (ii) applies, the applicant may apply to the court for
an order under this rule (and, if relevant, an order under rule 715)
against the other person.
(4) The application must be supported by an affidavit stating the facts on
which the applicant relies, and stating the kinds of information,
documents or things in relation to which the application is made.
Note 1 For an application mentioned in r (2), div 2.2.3 (Originating applications)
contains provisions about the content of originating applications, the
filing and service of originating applications, etc.
Note 2 For an application mentioned in r (3), r 6008 (Application in
proceeding—filing and service) deals with service of the application and
(5) The court may order the other person—
(a) to attend before the court to be examined in relation to the
identity or whereabouts of the potential defendant; or
(b) to produce to the court any document or thing that is, or has
been, in the other person’s possession relating to the identity or
whereabouts of the potential defendant; or
(c) to make and serve on the applicant a list of the documents or
things that are, or have been, in the other person’s possession
relating to the identity or whereabouts of the potential
defendant; or
(d) to produce for inspection by the applicant any document or thing
that is, or has been, in the other person’s possession relating to
the identity or whereabouts of the potential defendant.
Rule 651
(6) If the court makes an order under subrule (5) (a) (an order for
attendance), the court may—
(a) order that the other person must produce to the court on the
examination any document or thing that is in the other person’s
possession relating to the identity or whereabouts of the
potential defendant; and
(b) direct that the examination by the court be held before the
(7) An order under this rule in relation to any information, document or
thing held by a corporation may be addressed to any appropriate
officer or former officer of the corporation.
(8) Rule 6606 (1) (Compliance with subpoena) and rule 6611 (Costs and
expenses of compliance with subpoena) apply, with necessary
changes, in relation to an order for attendance under this rule as if the
order were a subpoena.
(9) In this rule:
identity or whereabouts, of the potential defendant, includes—
(a) whether the potential defendant is an individual or a corporation;
and
(b) for an individual—the potential defendant’s name, home
address or other whereabouts, occupation and sex; and
(c) for a corporation—the potential defendant’s registered office,
business address or other whereabouts.