Francis (Trustee) v Oculus Accounting Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 448

Federal Court of Australia

Francis (Trustee) v Oculus Accounting Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 448 File number: QUD 11 of 2020

Judgment of: DERRINGTON J

Date of judgment: 30 April 2021

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application by director for leave to appear for company in proceedings – insufficient evidence of financial ability of company and those who stand behind it to fund the litigation – no evidence of director's authority to make application on behalf of the company – director's lack of ability to conduct complex litigation – application dismissed

Legislation: Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), rr 1.34, 4.01

Cases cited: AA Shi Pty Ltd v Avbar Pty Ltd (No 4) [2010] FCA 878 ACCC v Dataline.net.au Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 1361 Act General Cleaning Co Pty Ltd v Con Naoum [1996] FCA 1560 Basetec Services Pty Ltd v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd (formerly Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd) [2017] FCA 510 Bay Marine Pty Ltd v Clayton Country Properties Pty Ltd (1986) 8 NSWLR 104 Checked-Out Pty Ltd v Eagle Eye Inspections Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 1002 Damjanovic v Maley (2002) 55 NSWLR 149 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Compumark Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 583 Enviro Pak Pty Ltd v New Horticulture Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 306 Flightdeck Geelong Pty Ltd v All Options Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 138 Hubbard Association of Scientologists International v Anderson [1972] VR 340 Molnar Engineering Pty Ltd v Burns (1984) 3 FCR 68 Pharm-a-Care Laboratories Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (No 12) [2012] FCA 289 Re G J Mannix Ltd [1984] 1 NZLR 309 Termi-Mesh Australia Pty Ltd v Josu Manufacturing Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1241 Worldwide Enterprises Pty Ltd v Silberman [2009] VSC 165