Flightdeck Geelong Pty Ltd v All Options Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 138

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Flightdeck Geelong Pty Ltd v All Options Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 138 Appeal from: All Options Pty Ltd v Flightdeck Geelong Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 588

File number: VID 997 of 2019

Judges: MARKOVIC, DERRINGTON AND ANASTASSIOU JJ

Date of judgment: 14 August 2020

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – legal capacity and relations with outsiders – extend litigation procedure – appearance in court by company and representation – application by company to be represented in proceedings by non-lawyer – matters which may be considered – no evidence of company's financial circumstances – complex case too difficult for proposed lay representative – no explanation for delay in applying for leave PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – self-represented litigant – duty of court to assist – extent of court's obligations – absence of detriment flowing from any alleged lack of instruction from trial judge

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), rr 4.01, 36.01

Cases cited: AA Shi Pty Ltd v Avbar Pty Ltd (No 4) [2010] FCA 878 Abram v Bank of New Zealand [1996] FCA 635; ATPR 41-507 Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 AMF15 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2016) 241 FCR 30 Applicant NAFF of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2004) 221 CLR 1 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Adata (Vic) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] FCA 272 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.net.au Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 1361 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Universal Sports Challenge Ltd [2002] FCA 1276 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Cycclone Magnetic Engines Inc [2009] QSC 58 Barghouthi v Transfield Pty Ltd (2002) 122 FCR 19 Bay Marine Pty Ltd v Clayton Country Properties Pty Ltd (No 2) (1986) 8 NSWLR 104 Bhagwanani v Martin (1999) 204 LSJS 449 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Bulstrode v Trimble [1970] VR 840 Clark v New South Wales (No 2) [2006] NSWSC 914 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Cytel Pty Ltd v Peoplebank Recruitment Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 985 Dairy Farmers Co-operative Ltd v Azar (1990) 170 CLR 293 Damjanovic v Maley (2002) 55 NSWLR 149 Dietrich v R (1992) 177 CLR 292 Downes v Maxwell Richard Rhys & Co Pty Ltd (in liq) (2014) 46 VR 283 Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 Gambaro v Mobycom Mobile Pty Ltd (2019) 271 FCR 530 Hamod v New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Astonland Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 640 Jankovic v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1995) 56 FCR 474 Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 178 CLR 408 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 King v Delta Metallics Pty Ltd [2013] FCAFC 93 MacPherson v R (1981) 147 CLR 512 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v WZARH (2015) 256 CLR 326 Minogue v Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (1999) 84 FCR 438 Molnar Engineering Pty Ltd v Burns (1984) 3 FCR 68 Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal [2002] HCA 30; 76 ALJR 966 Mulhern's Properties Inc v Bank of Queensland Ltd [2013] FCA 401 Neil v Nott [1994] HCA 23; 68 ALJR 509; 121 ALR 148 Nobarani v Mariconte (2018) 265 CLR 236 Northern Territory v Sangare (2019) 265 CLR 164 O'Brien v Komesaroff (1982) 150 CLR 310 Oakley Inc v Franchise China Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 404 Park v Brothers [2005] HCA 73; 222 ALR 421 Potts v Miller (1940) 64 CLR 282 Rajski v Scitec Corporation Pty Ltd (unreported, Court of Appeal, NSW, 16 June 1986) Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1 Samad v District Court of New South Wales) (2002) 209 CLR 140 Silkearl Pty Ltd v Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd [2006] FCA 949 Simto Resources Ltd v Normandy Capital Ltd [1993] FCA 468; 10 ACSR 776 Southcorp Brands Pty Ltd v Australia Rush Rich Winery Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 720; 369 ALR 299 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 SZRUR v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2013) 216 FCR 445 Taub v R (2017) 95 NSWLR 388 Termi-Mesh Australia Pty Ltd v Josu Manufacturing Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1241 Tobacco Control Coalition Inc v Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd [2000] FCA 131 Tomasevic v Travaglini (2007) 17 VR 100 Tritonia Ltd v Equity and Law Life Assurance Society [1943] AC 584 WACO v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2003) 131 FCR 511