Shieh Liang H v Google Singapore Pte Ltd: Extension of Writ Validity & Service Out of Jurisdiction

In the case of Shieh Liang H v Google Singapore Pte Ltd and others, before the General Division of the High Court of Singapore, the plaintiff, Mr. Shieh Liang H, sought leave to serve a Writ of Summons on Singaporean defendants with foreign addresses and to extend the Writ's validity. The court dismissed both applications, citing the plaintiff's failure to prosecute the claims with due expedition and the lack of substantial connection to Singapore. The plaintiff's claims against the first to sixth defendants had already been dismissed.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court

1.2 Outcome

SUM 1924 and SUM 1925 are dismissed.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Shieh Liang H's applications to extend the validity of a writ and serve it out of jurisdiction were dismissed due to lack of connection to Singapore.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Shieh Liang HClaimantIndividualApplications DismissedLostShieh Liang H
Google Singapore Pte LtdDefendantCorporationClaims DismissedWon
Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte LtdDefendantCorporationClaims DismissedWon
Baker & Mackenzie Wong & LeowDefendantCorporationClaims DismissedWon
PricewaterhouseCoopers CM Services Pte LtdDefendantCorporationClaims DismissedWon
PricewaterhouseCoopers Management Services Pte LtdDefendantCorporationClaims DismissedWon
Jones Day (Singapore)DefendantCorporationClaims DismissedWon
395 othersDefendantOtherUnknownNeutral

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Lee Seiu KinSenior JudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Shieh Liang HIndependent Practitioner

4. Facts

  1. The plaintiff filed a Writ of Summons in 2010 against multiple defendants.
  2. The plaintiff sought leave to serve the Writ out of jurisdiction, which was initially denied.
  3. The plaintiff's claims against the first six defendants were dismissed due to failure to provide security for costs.
  4. The plaintiff made numerous unsuccessful interlocutory applications over the years.
  5. The plaintiff sought to extend the validity of the Writ and serve it on Singaporean defendants with foreign addresses.
  6. The court found the case lacked a substantial connection with Singapore.
  7. The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of US$1 trillion.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Shieh Liang H v Google Singapore Pte Ltd and others, Suit No 635 of 2010 (Summonses Nos 1924 and 1925 of 2023), [2024] SGHC 142

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Writ of Summons filed
HC/SUM 4752/2010 filed
HC/SUM 4752/2010 dismissed
HC/SUM 1013/2011 filed
Applications to strike out Suit filed by first, second, third and sixth defendants
Joint application for security for costs filed by first, second, third and sixth defendants
HC/SUM 1504/2011 heard
AR Leong Weng Tat granted the application for security of costs
HC/RA 442/2010 hearing
HC/RA 147/2011 dismissed
HC/SUM 3920/2011 granted
HC/SUM 4271/2011 and HC/RA 320/2011 dismissed
Adjourned hearing for HC/SUM 1013/2011
HC/SUM 4840/2011 dismissed
HC/SUM 5716/2012 dismissed
HC/SUM 1832/2018 filed
Application for injunctions dismissed
First hearing for HC/SUM 1832/2018
HC/SUM 1832/2018 withdrawn
SUM 1924 and SUM 1925 filed
Hearings for SUM 1924 and SUM 1925
Hearings for SUM 1924 and SUM 1925
Plaintiff submitted documents and sought extension of time
Plaintiff submitted documents and sought extension of time
Plaintiff submitted documents and sought extension of time
Plaintiff submitted documents and sought extension of time
Judgment reserved
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Extension of Validity of Writ of Summons
    • Outcome: The court dismissed the application to extend the validity of the Writ.
    • Category: Procedural
  2. Service Out of Jurisdiction
    • Outcome: The court dismissed the application for leave to serve the Writ out of jurisdiction.
    • Category: Procedural
  3. Amendment of Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim
    • Outcome: The court did not explicitly rule on the amendment of the writ of summons and statement of claim, but the application to extend the validity of the writ was dismissed.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Damages for harm to reputation and business
  2. Quashing orders of resolutions passed by Taiwanese bar associations and legal entities
  3. Special damages
  4. Exemplary damages
  5. Aggravated damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Harm to reputation
  • Harm to business
  • Deprivation of rights
  • Conspiracies

10. Practice Areas

  • Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Writ of Summons
  • Service out of jurisdiction
  • Extension of validity
  • Security for costs
  • Interlocutory applications
  • Singaporean entities
  • Taiwanese bar associations
  • Wen-Lien Group

15.2 Keywords

  • Writ of Summons
  • Service out of jurisdiction
  • Extension of validity
  • Civil Procedure
  • Singapore

16. Subjects

  • Civil Procedure
  • Service of Process

17. Areas of Law

  • Civil Procedure