Litigation and Dispute Resolution

McCabes News: McCabes promote 14 across firm

15 December, 2021

The interlocutory decision referred to below is an important reminder to all practitioners that when an expert witness claims to require access to certain documents to complete his or her report this should not necessarily be taken as gospel, and the expert may be required to provide a rational explanation.

Background facts

Mr Noble brought a cross-claim against Secure Logic Pte Ltd (SL Singapore) and Secure Logic Pty Ltd (SL Australia). SL Singapore is a wholly owned subsidiary of SL Australia.

Mr Noble relies upon the terms of a written employment contract with SL Singapore which he claims entitled him to a 6 percent shareholding in SL Singapore together with the possibility of a further 6 percent (based upon performance). Mr Noble also claims that the contract entitled him to trade his shares in SL Singapore for an equal number of shares in SL Australia.

His cross-claim seeks damages for the loss of the shareholding in SL Singapore and the loss of the opportunity to trade shares in SL Singapore for shares in SL Australia.

For the purposes of quantifying his damages Mr Noble intended to lead evidence from an expert accountant, Mr Ross Mottershead, concerning the value of shares in SL Singapore and SL Australia at the relevant time.

Mr Mottershead provided an opinion to Mr Noble’s solicitors in the following terms:

… it is my expert opinion that the value of Secure Logic Pty Ltd (Australia) and Secure Logic Pte Ltd (Singapore) may be determined in part by considering the value of the other companies within the group.

It is my experience that different corporate group structures hold business assets and functions in different companies for reasons that include but are not limited to asset protection and tax saving. This inter-company relationship may have degrees of bearing on a single company’s value.

Relying upon the above expert opinion, Mr Noble’s solicitors issued three notices to produce and caused the Court to issue three subpoenas in an effort to obtain financial information from related companies of SL Singapore and SL Australia.

Parker J characterised the notices to produce and subpoenas as seeking “a comprehensive disclosure of the financial position of each of the companies in question and their dealings within the so-called “Secure Logic Group”, with a particular focus on the potential for transfer pricing and sharing of services within that “Group”.

The plaintiffs applied to the Supreme Court of New South Wales to have the notices to produce and subpoenas set aside, including on the grounds of relevance and oppression.

Link between relevance and oppression

It is well established that the requirement of relevance needed to support a notice to produce or a subpoena is not a demanding one. The test to be applied has been stated in various ways. For example, it has been said that a category of documents is sufficiently relevant for the purposes of a notice to produce or a subpoena if “it is likely the documentation will materially assist on an identified issue, or there is a reasonable basis beyond speculation that it is likely the documentation will” (Nicholas J in ICAP Pty Ltd v Moebes [2009] NSWSC 306 at [30]).

In the present case the presiding judicial officer, Parker J, accepted that there may be documents of potential relevance in the extremely wide range of material sought (that is, documents touching upon the value of shares in SL Singapore and SL Australia). However, he determined that the notices to produce and subpoenas should be set because they were not “appropriately directed”.

Notwithstanding that the test of relevance is not a demanding one, in Parker J’s opinion (at [27]):

… this test must be applied having regard to the scope of the production which would be required as a whole. It cannot be a justification for issuing a subpoena which would require the production of thousands of documents that one particular document, or an identifiable small subgroup of the documents, may in some way or another add to the relevant evidence in the case if the other documents called for will not. The test … , in my opinion, does not excuse the legal representatives from doing their best to frame subpoenas and notices to produce in such a way as to target documents which are likely to be relevant.

Furthermore, even though there was no evidence before the Court of the difficulty or otherwise in complying with the notices to produce and the subpoenas, Parker J held that this was a case “where it is clear from the terms of the request itself that the request is oppressive” and that the task of compliance “will be expensive or, at least, is likely to be expensive enough to justify complaint”.

Expert’s opinion as to relevance not gospel

As mentioned above, Mr Noble’s legal representatives relied upon the opinions expressed by an expert accountant, Mr Mottershead, as to why the documents sought were necessary for him to complete his report. They submitted that the task of identifying what documents were needed was itself a matter for expertise and that the Court should not seek to go behind Mr Mottershead’s opinion in this regard.

Mr Noble’s legal representatives pointed to the decision of Stevenson J in in RSA (Moorvale Station) Pty Ltd v VDM CCE Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 534. In that case an expert engineer, Mr Senogles, maintained the position that he needed certain documents to complete his report for the reasons which he identified. Stevenson J stated at [23] that “In my opinion, it is neither necessary, nor appropriate, for me to express any view about the correctness of Mr Senoogles’ contentions”.

Mr Noble’s legal representatives submitted that Parker J should follow the same approach in the present case. However, Parker J declined to do so for the following reasons:

  1. The opinions of Mr Mottershead were expressed at an extremely general level. This was to be contrasted with the RSA case, where the expert identified specific categories of documents which were sought;
  2. Mr Mottershead had not sought to explain, by reference to the accounts of SL Singapore and SL Australia which had been made available to him, the particular transactions or classes of transactions with other related companies he needed to further investigate (for the purpose of the valuation of those two companies);
  3. Even if Mr Mottershead had expressed an opinion by reference to particular categories of documents sought, “it would be no more than an oracular pronouncement on his part” in the absence of a rational explanation as to why the documents were necessary to complete his report. This was a reference to the following judicial statement which was cited with approval by Heydon JA in Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705, 729–30 [59]:

“the bare ipse dixit of a scientist, however eminent, upon the issue in controversy, will normally carry little weight, for it cannot be tested by cross-examination nor independently appraised, and the parties have invoked the decision of a judicial tribunal and not an oracular pronouncement by an expert.”

Take home points

  1. There is an overlap between the ‘relevance’ and ‘oppression’ grounds of objection to a notice to produce/subpoena. If the categories of documents sought are not appropriately directed with the result they capture both apparently relevant and irrelevant documents, the notice to produce/subpoena may be characterised as oppressive and set aside accordingly.
  2. Legal practitioners have a duty to frame notice to produce/subpoenas so that they target documents which are likely to be relevant. This is consistent with furthering the overriding purpose set out in s 56 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) (to facilitate the just, quick and cheap resolution of the real issues in the proceedings).
  3.  An expert witness has a duty to furnish the Court with the necessary criteria to enable evaluation of the validity of the expert’s opinions. It is well understood that this duty applies to opinions expressed in an expert report. The present decision confirms that the duty also applies to an opinion expressed by an expert as to the documents apparently required to complete his or her report.

 

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Canadian Court elevates thumbs-up emoji to signature status

In June 2023, a Canadian Court in South-West Terminal Ltd v Achter Land and Cattle Ltd, 2023 SKKB 116, held that the "thumbs-up" emoji carried enough weight to constitute acceptance of contractual terms, analogous to that of a "signature", to establish a legally binding contract.   Facts This case involved a contractual dispute between two parties namely South-West Terminal ("SWT"), a grain and crop inputs company; and Achter Land & Cattle Ltd ("ALC"), a farming corporation. SWT sought to purchase several tonnes of flax at a price of $17 per bushel, and in March 2021, Mr Mickleborough, SWT's Farm Marketing Representative, sent a "blast" text message to several sellers indicating this intention. Following this text message, Mr Mickleborough spoke with Mr Achter, owner of ALC, whereby both parties verbally agreed by phone that ALC would supply 86 metric tonnes of flax to SWT at a price of $17 per bushel, in November 2021. After the phone call, Mr Mickleborough applied his ink signature to the contract, took a photo of it on his mobile phone and texted it to Mr Archter with the text message, "please confirm flax contract". Mr Archter responded by texting back a "thumbs-up" emoji, but ultimately did not deliver the 87 metric tonnes of flax as agreed.   Issues The parties did not dispute the facts, but rather, "disagreed as to whether there was a formal meeting of the minds" and intention to enter into a legally binding agreement. The primary issue that the Court was tasked with deciding was whether Mr Achter's use of the thumbs-up emoji carried the same weight as a signature to signify acceptance of the terms of the alleged contract. Mr Mickleborough put forward the argument that the emoji sent by Mr Achter conveyed acceptance of the terms of the agreement, however Mr Achter disagreed arguing that his use of the emoji was his way of confirming receipt of the text message. By way of affidavit, Mr Achter stated "I deny that he accepted the thumbs-up emoji as a digital signature of the incomplete contract"; and "I did not have time to review the Flax agreement and merely wanted to indicate that I did receive his text message." Consensus Ad Idem In deciding this issue, the Court needed to determine whether there had been a "formal meeting of the minds". At paragraph [18], Justice Keene considered the reasonable bystander test: " The court is to look at “how each party’s conduct would appear to a reasonable person in the position of the other party” (Aga at para 35). The test for agreement to a contract for legal purposes is whether the parties have indicated to the outside world, in the form of the objective reasonable bystander, their intention to contract and the terms of such contract (Aga at para 36). The question is not what the parties subjectively had in mind, but rather whether their conduct was such that a reasonable person would conclude that they had intended to be bound (Aga at para 37)."   Justice Keene considered several factors including: The nature of the business relationship, notably that Mr Achter had a long-standing business relationship with SWT going back to at least 2015 when Mr Mickleborough started with SWT; and   The consistency in the manner by which the parties conducted their business by way of verbal conversation either in person or over the phone to come to an agreement on price and volume of grain, which would be followed by Mr Mickleborough drafting a contract and sending it to Mr Achter. Mr Mickleborough stated, "I have done approximately fifteen to twenty contracts with Achter"; and   The fact that the parties had both clearly understood responses by Mr Achter such as "looks good", "ok" or "yup" to mean confirmation of the contract and "not a mere acknowledgment of the receipt of the contract" by Mr Achter.   Judgment At paragraph [36], Keene J said: "I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Chris okayed or approved the contract just like he had done before except this time he used a thumbs-up emoji. In my opinion, when considering all of the circumstances that meant approval of the flax contract and not simply that he had received the contract and was going to think about it. In my view a reasonable bystander knowing all of the background would come to the objective understanding that the parties had reached consensus ad item – a meeting of the minds – just like they had done on numerous other occasions." The court satisfied that the use of the thumbs-up emoji paralleled the prior abbreviated texts that the parties had used to confirm agreement ("looks good", "yup" and "ok"). This approach had become the established way the parties conducted their business relationship.   Significance of the Thumbs-Up Emoji Justice Keene acknowledged the significance of a thumbs-up emoji as something analogous to a signature at paragraph [63]: "This court readily acknowledges that a thumbs-up emoji is a non-traditional means to "sign" a document but nevertheless under these circumstances this was a valid way to convey the two purposes of a "signature" – to identify the signator… and… to convey Achter's acceptance of the flax contract." In support of this, Justice Keene cited the dictionary.com definition of the thumbs-up emoji: "used to express assent, approval or encouragement in digital communications, especially in western cultures", confirming that the thumbs-up emoji is an "action in an electronic form" that can be used to allow express acceptance as contemplated under the Canadian Electronic Information and Documents Act 2000. Justice Keene dismissed the concerns raised by the defence that accepting the thumbs up emoji as a sign of agreement would "open the flood gates" to new interpretations of other emojis, such as the 'fist bump' and 'handshake'. Significantly, the Court held, "I agree this case is novel (at least in Skatchewan), but nevertheless this Court cannot (nor should it) attempt to stem the tide of technology and common usage." Ultimately the Court found in favour of SWT, holding that there was a valid contract between the parties and that the defendant breached by failing to deliver the flax. Keene J made a judgment against ALC for damages in the amount of $82,200.21 payable to SWT plus interest.   What does this mean for Australia? This is a Canadian decision meaning that it is not precedent in Australia. However, an Australian court is well within its rights to consider this judgment when dealing with matters that come before it with similar circumstances. This judgment is a reminder that the common law of contract has and will continue to evolve to meet the everchanging realities and challenges of our day-to-day lives. As time has progressed, we have seen the courts transition from sole acceptance of the traditional "wet ink" signature, to electronic signatures. Electronic signatures are legally recognised in Australia and are provided for by the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 and the Electronic Transactions Regulations 2020. Companies are also now able to execute certain documents via electronic means under s 127 of the Corporations Act. We have also seen the rise of electronic platforms such as "DocuSign" used in commercial relationships to facilitate the efficient signing of contracts. Furthermore, this case highlights how courts will interpret the element of "intention" when determining whether a valid contract has been formed, confirming the long-standing principle that it is to be assessed objectively from the perspective of a reasonable and objective bystander who is aware of all the relevant facts. Overall, this is an interesting development for parties engaging in commerce via electronic means and an important reminder to all to be conscious of the fact that contracts have the potential to be agreed to by use of an emoji in today's digital age.

Published by Foez Dewan
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Government

Venues NSW ats Kerri Kane: Venues NSW successful in overturning a District Court decision

The McCabes Government team are pleased to have assisted Venues NSW in successfully overturning a District Court decision holding it liable in negligence for injuries sustained by a patron who slipped and fell down a set of steps at a sports stadium; Venues NSW v Kane [2023] NSWCA 192 Principles The NSW Court of Appeal has reaffirmed the principles regarding the interpretation of the matters to be considered under sections5B of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW). There is no obligation in negligence for an occupier to ensure that handrails are applied to all sets of steps in its premises. An occupier will not automatically be liable in negligence if its premises are not compliant with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Background The plaintiff commenced proceedings in the District Court of NSW against Venues NSW (VNSW) alleging she suffered injuries when she fell down a set of steps at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on 6 July 2019. The plaintiff attended the Stadium with her husband and friend to watch an NRL rugby league match. It was raining heavily on the day. The plaintiff alleged she slipped and fell while descending a stepped aisle which comprised of concrete steps between rows of seating. The plaintiff sued VNSW in negligence alleging the stepped aisle constituted a "stairwell" under the BCA and therefore ought to have had a handrail. The plaintiff also alleged that the chamfered edge of the steps exceeded the allowed tolerance of 5mm. The Decision at Trial In finding in favour of the plaintiff, Norton DCJ found that: the steps constituted a "stairwell" and therefore were in breach of the BCA due to the absence of a handrail and the presence of a chamfered edge exceeding 5mm in length. even if handrails were not required, the use of them would have been good and reasonable practice given the stadium was open during periods of darkness, inclement weather, and used by a persons of varying levels of physical agility. VNSW ought to have arranged a risk assessment of the entire stadium, particularly the areas which provided access along stepped surfaces. installation of a handrail (or building stairs with the required chamfered edge) would not impose a serious burden on VNSW, even if required on other similar steps. Issues on Appeal VNSW appealed the decision of Norton DCJ. The primary challenge was to the trial judge's finding that VNSW was in breach of its duty of care in failing to install a handrail. In addition, VNSW challenged the findings that the steps met the definition of a 'stairwell' under the BCA as well as the trial judge's assessment of damages. Decision on Appeal The Court of Appeal found that primary judge's finding of breach of duty on the part of VNSW could not stand for multiple reasons, including that it proceeded on an erroneous construction of s5B of the Civil Liability Act 2002 and the obvious nature of the danger presented by the steps. As to the determination of breach of duty, the Court stressed that the trial judge was wrong to proceed on the basis that the Court simply has regard to each of the seven matters raised in ss 5B and 5C of the CLA and then express a conclusion as to breach. Instead, the Court emphasised that s 5B(1)(c) is a gateway, such that a plaintiff who fails to satisfy that provision cannot succeed, with the matters raised in s 5B(2) being mandatory considerations to be borne in mind when determining s 5B(1)(c). 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As to quantum, the Court of Appeal accepted that the trial judge erred in awarding the plaintiff a "buffer" of $10,000 for past economic loss in circumstances where there was no evidence of any loss of income. The Court of Appeal set aside the orders of the District Court and entered judgment for VNSW with costs. Why this case is important? The case confirms there is no obligation in negligence for owners and operators of public or private venues in NSW to have a handrail on every set of steps. It is also a welcome affirmation of the principles surrounding the assessment of breach of duty under s 5B and s 5C of the CLA, particularly in assessing whether precautions are required to be taken in response to hazards which are familiar and obvious to a reasonable person.

Published by Leighton Hawkes
18 August, 2023
Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Expert evidence – The letter of instruction and involvement of lawyers

The recent decision in New Aim Pty Ltd v Leung [2023] FCAFC 67 (New Aim) has provided some useful guidance in relation to briefing experts in litigation.

Published by Justin Pennay
10 August, 2023