Edwards v Santos Ltd

HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIAFRENCH CJ,GUMMOW, HAYNE, HEYDON, CRENNAN, KIEFEL AND BELL JJNOELENE MARGARET EDWARDS & ORS  PLAINTIFFSANDSANTOS LIMITED & ORS  DEFENDANTSEdwards v Santos Limited [2011] HCA 830 March 2011S153/2010ORDER1.     A writ of certiorari issue directed to the fourth defendant to quash:(a)the decisions of the Federal Court of Australia made on 18 December 2009 and 17 March 2010 in proceeding QUD 86 of 2009; and (b)the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court made on 4 June 2010 in proceeding QUD 28 of 2010.2.Dismiss the application for the issue of a writ of mandamus against the fourth defendant. 3.     The first, second and third defendants pay the costs of the plaintiffs in:(a)the Federal Court of and incidental to the first, second and third defendants' motions for summary dismissal;(b)     the Full Court of the Federal Court; and (c)     this Court.  RepresentationJ A McCarthy QC with J F Kildea and A L Tokley for the plaintiffs (instructed by Eddy Neumann Lawyers)B W Walker SC with S B Lloyd SC and S R R Cooper for the first and third defendants (instructed by Blake Dawson Lawyers)R J Webb QC with H P Bowskill and G J D del Villar for the second defendant (instructed by Crown Solicitor (Qld))Submitting appearance for the fourth defendantIntervenerS J Gageler SC, Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth with R G Orr QC and B Lim intervening on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth (instructed by Australian Government Solicitor)Notice:  This copy of the Court's Reasons for Judgment is subject...