Pham v Gall [2020] NSWCA 116

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Pham v Gall [2020] NSWCA 116 Hearing dates: 20 April 2020 Date of orders: 19 June 2020 Decision date: 19 June 2020 Before: Leeming JA at [1] Payne JA at [59] McCallum JA at [156] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal refused; (2) Applicant to pay the costs of the respondent. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – undefended judgment – setting aside – where applicant did not appear at hearing of proceedings – whether primary judge erred in describing principles for setting aside an undefended judgment under r 36.16(2)(b) of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules – where applicant sought to rely on Vacuum Oil Pty Co Ltd v Stockdale – whether Vacuum Oil applied to application to set aside undefended judgment under UCPR – whether in 1942 principles for setting aside an undefended judgment different at common law and in equity – whether, with introduction of Supreme Court Act in 1972, a single set of rules applied at common law and in equity – no House v The King error shown

CIVIL PROCEDURE – undefended judgment – setting aside – whether primary judge mischaracterised the nature and strength of applicant's proposed defence – no House v The King error shown

CIVIL PROCEDURE – undefended judgment – setting aside – whether prejudice caused to the respondent in setting aside orders – whether prejudice can be remedied by costs order – no House v The King error shown

CIVIL PROCEDURE – undefended judgment – setting aside – whether adequate explanation offered for applicant's non-appearance at hearing and delay – no House v The King error shown Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 100 Common Law Procedure Act 1899 (NSW), s 25(3) Consolidated Equity Rules 1902 (NSW), r 100, Pt XVII District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 44 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), Dictionary Equity Act 1880 (NSW) Equity Act 1901 (NSW), s 82 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 68,101(2)(e) Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873 (36 & 37 Vict c. 66) Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict c. 77) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 40 r 9 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 36.15, 36.16 Cases Cited: Achurch v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 141; [2014] HCA 10 Aust v Fenwick (1833) 2 DPC 246 Australian Health & Nutrition Association Ltd v Hive Marketing Group Pty Ltd (2019) 99 NSWLR 419; [2019] NSWCA 61 Balenzuela v De Gail (1959) 101 CLR 226; [1959] HCA 1 Bank Nationalisation case (1949) 79 CLR 497 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Cavanough (1935) 53 CLR 220; [1935] HCA 45 Conway v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 203; [2002] HCA 2 Dai v Zhu [2013] NSWCA 412 Evans v Bartlam [1937] AC 473 Ex parte Vigilant Finance (NSW) Pty Ltd; re Cameron Smith [1964] NSWR 1282 Farden v Richter (1889) 23 QBD 124 Foundas v Arambatzis [2020] NSWCA 47 Gall v Pham (No 2) [2019] NSWSC 1294 Goodsell v National Bank of Australasia (1890) 11 NSWLR Eq 32 Graham v Ashton (1953) 70 WN 44 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 612; [2002] NSWCA 78 Hasler v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (2014) 87 NSWLR 609; [2014] NSWCA 266 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 HR Turner & Son Pty Ltd v Rhodes [1970] 1 NSWR 305 Ibrahim v Ayoubi [2013] NSWCA 405 James v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd [2020] NSWCA 101 Kalbasi v Western Australia (2018) 264 CLR 62; [2018] HCA 7 Lord Faulconberg v Peirce (1754) 1 Ambl 210; 27 ER 140 Macedonian Orthodox Community Church St Petka Inc v His Eminence Petar the Diocesan Bishop of Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (2008) 237 CLR 66; [2008] HCA 42 Macnamara v The Minister for Works (1894) 15 NSWLR Eq 173 Magnate Projects Pty Ltd v Youma Constructions (No 2) Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 331 Martin v Booty (1884) 1 WN (NSW) 47 Metwally v University of Wollongong (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; (1985) 59 ALJR 481 Northey v Bega Valley Shire Council [2012] NSWCA 28 Re Hartley [1891] 2 Ch 121 Re Queensland Electricity Commission; Ex parte Electrical Trades Union of Australia (1987) 72 ALR 1; [1987] HCA 27 Risa Gall v Andrew Minh Luan Pham [2015] NSWSC 1710 RT Company Pty Ltd v Minister of State for the Interior (1957) 98 CLR 168; [1957] HCA 39 Simpson v Alexander (1926) 26 SR (NSW) 296 Smith v Dobbins (1877) 37 LT (NS) 777 Sprigge v Rutherford (1833) 2 DPC 429 Swinfen v Swinfen (1859) 27 Beav 148; 54 ER 57 The Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Company Ltd v Evatt (1970) 122 CLR 628 Turner v New South Wales Mont de Piete Deposit and Investment Co Ltd (1910) 10 CLR 539; [1910] HCA 15 Vacuum Oil Pty Co Ltd v Stockdale (1942) 42 SR (NSW) 239 Watt v Barnett (1878) 3 QBD 363 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300; [2005] HCA 81 Wilkins v Bedford (1876) 35 LT 622 Woodland v Swimming Teachers Association [2014] AC 537; [2013] UKSC 66 Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer v Detailed Flooring Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1056 Texts Cited: Australian Digest (2nd ed, 1977) Vol 31, "Practice" J Baker, Collected Papers on English Legal History (Cambridge University Press, 2013), Vol I, "Introduction" J Baker, The Law's Two Bodies (Oxford University Press, 2001) J Bryson, "Common law pleadings in New South Wales and how they got here" (2012) 86 ALJ 452 W H Bryson, The Equity Side of the Exchequer (Cambridge University Press, 1975) W Cornish et al, The Oxford History of the Laws of England (Oxford University Press, 2010), Vol XI R Lush, The Practice of the superior courts of law at Westminster (London, 1840) Mason, Sir Frederick Jordan: Fire Under the Frost (2019, The Federation Press) New South Wales, Law Reform Commission, Report of the Law Reform Commission on Supreme Court Procedure (1969, LRC 7) WA Parker, The Practice in Equity (New South Wales) (1930, Law Book Co of Australasia) G Stuckey and C Irwin, Parker's Practice in Equity (Law Book Co of Australasia Pty Ltd, 2nd ed 1949) R Walker, The Practice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales at Common Law (Law Book Co of Australasia, 4th ed 1958) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Minh Luan Pham (Applicant) Risa Gall (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D R Pritchard SC with A J Macauley (Applicant) B Le Plastrier (Respondent) Solicitors: KPL Lawyers (Applicant) Morgan Mac Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2019/335346 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Supreme Court of New South Wales Jurisdiction: Equity Citation: [2019] NSWSC 1294 Date of Decision: 27 September 2019 Before: Lindsay J File Number(s): 2015/132068