Dispute Resolution Singapore Client Alert February 2015 Singapore High Court holds that the Riddick principle ceases to apply once a document has been used in open court For further information please contact: Introduction Chan Leng Sun, SC Tel: +65 6434 2588 A party to litigation who has obtained discovery of a document owes an implied undertaking to the court not to use that document for any collateral or ulterior purpose (the "Riddick principle"). [email protected] Andy Leck Tel: +65 6434 2525 [email protected] Nandakumar Ponniya Tel: +65 6434 2663 [email protected] Celeste Ang Tel: +65 6434 2753 [email protected] Liu Zeming +65 6434 2274 [email protected] Address 8 Marina Boulevard, #05-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1 Singapore 018981 www.bakermckenzie.com However, does the Riddick principle continue to apply after the document has been used in an open court hearing of the matter, or are parties at liberty to use the document for other purposes (for example, in another suit) thereafter? This issue was considered for the first time in Singapore by the Singapore High Court in Foo Jong Long Dennis v Ang Yee Lim and another [2015] SGHC 23. The Singapore High Court held that the Riddick principle ceases to apply once the document has been used in open court. However, the party who discloses the document or the party who owns the document may apply to the court for the implied undertaking to continue. Such an application should be made before the document is used in the open court hearing. The Facts The Plaintiff and the Defendants were shareholders in various entities, including Raffles Town Club Pte Ltd ("RTC"). In 2000, various suits involving the parties were instituted. The trial for the suits was partially heard and finally resolved by an out-of-court settlement. In 2006, another suit was commenced by RTC against, amongst others, the Plaintiff and the Defendants ("Year 2006 Suit"). Pursuant to discovery obligations in the Year 2006 Suit, the Defendants furnished a handwritten document in the Chinese language titled "Minutes of Meeting" and dated 14 April 2001 ("Document"). The Document was referred to and used in open court during the trial of the Year 2006 Suit. The Plaintiff subsequently instituted the present proceedings against the Defendants for damages for, among other things, deceit, misrepresentation and conspiracy. According to the Plaintiff, the Document constituted evidence of a certain agreement between the Defendants and third parties, which was in turn relevant - and in fact crucial - to the Plaintiff's case in the present proceedings. The Defendants sought to strike out the Plaintiff's statement of claim on the basis that the use of the Document was a breach of the Riddick principle. The striking out application was dismissed. The Defendants then raised this as a preliminary point for determination on the first day of trial. The Issue The sole preliminary issue before the Singapore High Court was whether the Riddick principle ceases to apply once the Document has been used in open court. The Court's Decision The Singapore High Court found that the Riddick principle ceases to apply once a document has been used in open court. Although an application may be made for the Riddick principle to continue, the Defendants had not done so in this case before the Document was used in open court. Accordingly, the Plaintiff was entitled to use the Document in the present proceedings. In arriving at its decision, the High Court first reviewed the Singapore authorities, and found that none of the local cases had decided on the specific issue before the court. Accordingly, the High Court examined the respective positions in England, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. After examining the various positions, the High Court held that the Riddick principle ceases to apply once a document has been used in open court. In doing so, the High Court adopted the minority reasoning in the English case Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280, and found that this position is consistent with the route by which most common law jurisdictions have adopted, either through the common law or by statutory changes. However, the High Court pointed out that even though the Riddick principle ceases to apply once the documents have been used in open court, it does not prevent a party from applying to court in order for the undertaking to continue. Conclusion A party to an action should be mindful that any document disclosed in the process of discovery may, once it has been used in open court, be used by the other party to the litigation for a collateral or ulterior purpose, for example, as evidence in another set of proceedings. If it is important for a party to restrict or prohibit the use of such documents, the party should make an application to the court for such an order, before the document has been read or used in open court. ©2015 Baker & McKenzie. All rights reserved. Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein with member law firms around the world. 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