Lee Shieh-Peen Clement v Ho Chin Nguang: Discovery, Document List, and Translation Dispute
Lee Shieh-Peen Clement and another filed an application against Ho Chin Nguang and others in the High Court of Singapore, appealing against the assistant registrar's decision regarding the discovery of documents related to investments in KingHope (Beijing) Investment. The plaintiffs sought a further and better list of documents and certified English translations. Philip Pillai JC dismissed the appeal, finding that the defendants had sufficiently complied with discovery obligations and were not required to provide translations at this stage.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Appeal dismissed.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Appeal regarding further discovery of documents. The court dismissed the appeal, holding that the defendants were not obligated to provide a more detailed list or translate documents.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Shieh-Peen Clement | Plaintiff, Appellant | Individual | Appeal dismissed | Lost | Rasanathan s/o Sothynathan, Luo Ling Ling |
| Ho Chin Nguang | Defendant, Respondent | Individual | Costs awarded | Won | Julia Yeo |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Philip Pillai | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Rasanathan s/o Sothynathan | Colin Ng & Partners LLP |
| Luo Ling Ling | Colin Ng & Partners LLP |
| Julia Yeo | Robert Wang & Woo LLC |
4. Facts
- The plaintiffs sought further discovery of documents related to investments in KingHope.
- The defendants provided a list of documents, including account books.
- The plaintiffs argued the list was insufficient and sought translations of non-English documents.
- The Assistant Registrar dismissed the plaintiffs' application.
- The plaintiffs appealed the Assistant Registrar's decision.
5. Formal Citations
- Lee Shieh-Peen Clement and another v Ho Chin Nguang and others, Suit No 285 of 2009 (Registrar's Appeal No 137 of 2010), [2010] SGHC 139
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Order for Discovery made | |
| Defendants filed list of documents | |
| Assistant Registrar dismissed plaintiffs’ application | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Discovery of Documents
- Outcome: The court held that the defendants had sufficiently complied with their discovery obligations and were not required to provide a more detailed list of documents or translate them at this stage.
- Category: Procedural
- Sub-Issues:
- Sufficiency of document list
- Obligation to translate documents
8. Remedies Sought
- Order for Further and Better List of Documents
- Order for Certified English Translations of Documents
9. Cause of Actions
- Application for Further and Better List of Documents
- Application for Certified English Translations of Documents
10. Practice Areas
- Litigation
11. Industries
- Investment
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCH Legal Group v Skevington & Anor | Western Australia District Court | Yes | [2001] WADC 116 | Australia | Cited regarding the requirement for reasonably precise description of documents in a bundle for discovery. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Order 24 r 3 of the Rules of Court (Cap 322, R 5, 2006 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Order 24 r 9 of the Rules of Court (Cap 322, R 5, 2006 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Order 92 r 1 | Singapore |
| Order 92 r 3 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Discovery
- List of documents
- Translation
- Accounts
- KingHope (Beijing) Investment
15.2 Keywords
- Discovery
- Documents
- Translation
- Singapore
- Civil Procedure
16. Subjects
- Civil Procedure
- Discovery
- Translation of Documents
17. Areas of Law
- Civil Procedure
- Discovery