b'The dispute that shattered legal recordsAmerican Flange & Manufacturing Company v Rheem AustraliaA 30 cent plug used to seal industrial storage drumsHe was scathing in his comments regarding American Flange, became the subject of an even more protracted and costlystating they were guilty of perjury on a scale that exceeds lawsuit two years later. US-based American Flange &anything that has come under my observation. Justice Manufacturing Company claimed Rheem Australia hadMyers, however, went to great lengths to stress that the poor infringed its patent for leakproof stoppers known asbehaviour of American Flange executives was not reflected in bungs. The companies had been in negotiations to formthe way in which the trial was conducted, which he said was a joint company and American Flange claimed Rheem wasbeyond criticism. American Flange was required to pay Rheem using proprietary information shared during the discussions.Australias legal costs, which amounted to over $1 million.Allen Allen & Hemsley represented American Flange. The trialIt is said that the senior counsel representing Rheem kept began on 3 August 1966 and lasted three and a half years,a bottle of champagne in the briefcase of his instructing occupying the New South Wales Equity Court for more thansolicitor. One day, as counsel for American Flange addressed 300 days. Wesley Ince, a partner of Arthur Robinson & Co, wasthe judge, there was a loud pop and the champagne cork chairman of Rheem Australia and was required to give evidence.flew from the solicitors open briefcase, narrowly missing the judges ear and striking the coat of arms behind him. A Guinness World Record was set by John Smyth QC whoAlthough the judge was not amused, the court officer wasaddressed the court for sixty- two days on behalf of Americanso overcome with laughter that he slipped out of his chair.Flange. The record was immediately broken by Sir Jack Cassidy QC who represented Rheem; his address to the court lasted seventy-five days. This was the longest trial to be heardin Australia.The total cost of the litigation was estimated to be around $2million. Over 600 exhibits were tendered and the transcript of evidence extended to 5,256 pages. For the first time in Australian history, the judge, Justice Myers, was insured by Rheem against the possibility of being unable to complete the hearing. Rheem was concerned that should something happen to Myers, the trial would need to start again and would increase costs even further.On 10 February 1970 Justice Myers dismissed the claim and lamented it had achieved the melancholy distinction of beingThe Daily Telegraph, 11 February 1970.the longest and most costly in the history of the jurisdiction. 153'