Ranclose Investments Pty Ltd v Leda Management Services Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 210

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ranclose Investments Pty Ltd v Leda Management Services Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 210 Hearing dates: 20 May 2021 Date of orders: 28 May 2021 Decision date: 28 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 146 Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - plaintiff's claim for unpaid fees from services agreement relating to management of the supply of water and sewerage services on development sites - claim defended on the basis of inadequacy of manager's services - defendant part of corporate group whose role was to manage payroll within the group - plaintiff's application to join developer and Chairman of corporate group - plaintiff's application to amend pleading - whether joinder and amendments futile - discretionary considerations COSTS - security for costs - applications for security by both defendant and plaintiff (as cross-defendant) - whether plaintiff's claim stifled by order for security - Cross-Claimant as trustee of trust - whether jurisdictional ground for order established - whether Cross-Claimant's claim is essentially defensive - general discretionary considerations Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 3, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64, 67, 95 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 1335 District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 134, 156 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 6.24, 14.7, 42.21 Cases Cited: Advance Innovative Solutions Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v X-Dem Group (Aust) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1112 April Fine Paper Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd v Moore Business Systems Australia Ltd (2009) 75 NSWLR 619 Bell Wholesale Co Pty Ltd v Gates Export Corp (No.2) [1984] 2 FCR 1 Billis v Bain Securities Ltd [1990] NSWCA 24 BPM Pty Ltd v HPM Pty Ltd (1996) 131 FLR 339 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424 Commonwealth v Cable Water Skiing (Aust) Ltd (1994) 116 FLR 153 Concrete Constructions v Dalma Formwork Pty Ltd [1999] NSWCA 16 Copson v DCM Coffee & Donuts Pty Ltd & Norriss (1996) ATPR 41-505 Cornelius v Global Medical Solutions Australia Pty Ltd (2014) 98 ACSR 301 Crypta Fuels Pty Ltd v Svelte Corp Pty Ltd (1995) 19 ACSR 68 Hilliam v Iacullo (2015) 90 NSWLR 422 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank [2001] NSWSC 744 KP Cable Investments v Meltglow Pty Ltd (1995) 56 FCR 189 Laundry Coin-Wash Nominees Pty Ltd v Dunlop Olympic Ltd (1985) 7 ATPR 40-584 Leotta v Public Transport Commission of NSW (1976) 50 ALJR 666 Lesvos Pty Ltd v Penrith Whitewater Stadium Ltd (2006) 58 ACSR 481 Live Board Holdings Ltd v Cody Live Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 302 Memetu Pty Ltd v Lissenden (1983) 8 ACLR 364 Modakboard Pty Ltd v Brady [2018] NSWSC 399 Motakov Ltd v Commercial Hardware Suppliers Pty Ltd (1952) 70 WN (NSW) 64 Narradine Pty Ltd v Mascot Bank Ltd [2012] NSWSC 385 New Fenix Compagnie Anonyme D'Assurances de Madrid v General Accident, Fire, and Life Assurance Corp Ltd [1911] 2 KB 619 Owners of "Shin Kobe Maru" v Empire Shipping Co Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404 Philips Electronics Australia Pty Ltd v Matthews (2002) 54 NSWLR 598 Royal Guardian Management Pty Ltd v Nguyen [2015] NSWCA 148 Siu Yin Kwan v Eastern Insurance Co Ltd [1994] A.C. 199 Southern Cross Exploration NL v Fire & All Risks Insurance Co Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 114 Statewide Developments Realty Pty Ltd v The Owners, SP 77457 [2013] NSWSC 1750 Tenth Anemot Pty Ltd v Colonial Mutual General Insurance Co Ltd [1993] 2 VR 48 Valmont Interiors Pty Ltd v Giorgio Armani Australia (No.2) [2021] NSWCA 93 Texts Cited: Bowstead and Reynolds on Agency (2021), (22nd edition (electronic version), Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Ranclose Investments Pty Ltd (plaintiff/first cross-defendant) Leda Management Services Pty Ltd (first defendant/Cross-Claimant) Leda Holdings Pty Ltd (proposed second defendant) Mr R Ell (proposed third defendant) Mr Williamson (second cross-defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms Harris for the plaintiff/cross-defendant Mr Connor for the first defendant/cross-claimant, proposed second defendant and proposed third defendant