Quach v New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2020] NSWCA 295

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Quach v New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2020] NSWCA 295 Hearing dates: On the papers Decision date: 18 November 2020 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] Leeming JA at [26] McCallum JA at [27] Decision: (1) The notice of motion filed 10 February 2020 be dismissed as an abuse of process. (2) The applicant (Mr Quach) to pay the second respondent's (HCCC) costs of the motion. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – parties – vexatious litigants – fourth application to set aside vexatious proceedings order – application dismissed CONTEMPT – allegation of contempt of court – whether enforcement of costs order in breach of undertaking given to the Court – no leave sought to bring proceedings – Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 (NSW) s 14 – application dismissed CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 78B – whether proceedings involve a matter arising under the Constitution or involving its interpretation – where mere assertion of invalidity of Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 (NSW) by reason of s 109 of the Constitution – whether frivolous or unarguable contention – no obligation to stay proceedings until s 78B notices given Legislation Cited: Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, s 109 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 588FF Health Care Complaints Commission Act 1993 (NSW) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 78B Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW), Pt 2 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), r 55.7 Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 (NSW), ss 8(7)(a), (b), 9, 14 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) (UCPR), rr 13.4(1)(a), (c), 42.1 Cases Cited: Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596; [1990] HCA 47 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (1999) 95 FCR 292; [1999] FCA 1151 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Warrick (No 2) [2004] FCA 918 Health Care Complaints Commission v Quach (No 2) [2015] NSWCATOD 32 Mao v AMP Superannuation Ltd [2018] NSWCA 72 Nikolic v MGICA Ltd [1999] FCA 849 Quach v New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission; Quach v New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2015] HCASL 131 Quach v New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission (No 6) [2017] NSWCA 183 Quach v New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission; Quach v New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2017] NSWCA 267 Quach v Health Care Complaints Commission; Quach v NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2018] NSWCA 175 Quach v NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2019] NSWCA 49 Quach v New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2019] NSWCA 200 Quach v New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal [2020] NSWCA 214 Sagacious Legal Pty Ltd v Wesfarmers General Insurance Ltd (No 3) (2010) 184 FCR 516; [2010] FCA 428 Zetta Jet Pte Ltd v The Ship "Dragon Pearl" (No 2) [2018] FCAFC 132; (2018) 265 FCR 290 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Quach (Applicant) NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (First Respondent) NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Self-represented (Applicant) L Michalko / F Shah (solicitors) (Second respondent)