Pekar, in the matter of Pekar [2021] FCA 362

Federal Court of Australia

Pekar, in the matter of Pekar [2021] FCA 362 Judgment of: WHEELAHAN J

Date of judgment: 15 April 2021

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application by a person subject to a vexatious proceedings order for leave to institute a proceeding – proposed proceeding seeks to appeal the vexatious proceedings order and summary dismissal of applicant's claims – where applicant failed substantially to comply with s 37AR(3) – where applicant has a history of commencing proceedings against respondents in connection with the same subject matter – where proposed appeal seeks to re-litigate claims for damages previously determined by the Court – application of Anshun estoppel, issue estoppel and res judicata – proposed proceeding vexatious – application dismissed.

Legislation: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) s 104 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 24(1A), 31A(1), 37AM(1), 37AO(2)(a), (5), (6)(a) and (b), 37AQ(1)(a), 37AR, (2) and (3)(b), 37AS(1), (2) and (3), 37AT and (4) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 79 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 26.01

Cases cited: Clark v Macourt [2013] HCA 56; 253 CLR 1 Croker, in the matter of Croker [2019] FCA 359 Fuller v Toms [2015] FCAFC 91; 234 FCR 535 Gargan, in the matter of Gargan [2018] FCA 871 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Pekar v Rickards Legal (No 3) [2017] FCCA 1196 Pekar v Holden [2021] FCA 141 Pekar v Holden (Trustee) [2019] FCA 442 Pekar v Holden (Trustee) (No 2) [2019] FCA 1212 Pekar v Holden (Trustee) (No 3) [2019] FCA 1928 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 45; 147 CLR 589 Todorovic v Waller [1981] HCA 72; 150 CLR 402 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2015] HCA 28; 256 CLR 507