DJ & LJ Norman Pty Ltd v Sheather [2022] NSWSC 1299

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: DJ & LJ Norman Pty Ltd v Sheather [2022] NSWSC 1299 Hearing dates: 25 February 2022 (further written submissions on 28 February, 11 March and 14 March 2022) Date of orders: 28 September 2022 Decision date: 28 September 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: (1) Refuse the Applicant leave to amend the Summons commencing an appeal as filed on 28 February 2022. (2) Refuse leave to appeal on grounds 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Summons, pursuant to s 40 of the Local Court Act 2007 (NSW). (3) Otherwise dismiss the Summons. (4) Costs reserved. (5) The Court gives liberty to file Short Minutes of Order as to any agreement as to costs. In the event of a dispute as to costs the parties shall a program for the resolution of any questions to costs within 14 days of the publication of this judgment. Catchwords: APPEALS – procedure - leave to appeal – principles governing – leave to amend summons refused – question of law – mixed question of law and fact – admission of evidence – common knowledge of background to commercial environment – taking account irrelevant matters CIVIL PROCEDURE – leave to appeal - leave to appeal refused Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 60, 64, 65 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 55, 76, 78, 79 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW) ss 39, 30, Part 3 Div. 4 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 40 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Part 50 Cases Cited: Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v KS Easter (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Ashi Pty Ltd v Karasco Investments Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 780 Attorney-General (NSW) v X (2000) 49 NSWLR 653; [2000] NSWCA 199 Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Bagumya v Kakwano [2010] NSWSC 600 Balenzuela v De Gail (1959) 101 CLR 226 at 235–236 Banque Commerciale SA (En Liqn) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 270 Be Financial Pty Ltd v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 BH Australia Constructions Pty Ltd v Kapeller [2019] NSWC 1086 Cheng v Motor Yacht Sales Australia Pty Ltd t/as Boutique Boat Co [2022] NSWCA 118 Collector of Customs v AGFA-Gevaert Ltd (1996) 186 CLR 389 County Securities Pty Ltd Challenger Group Holdings Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 193 D v D [2007] FamCA 1020 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 De Armas v Peters [2015] NSWSC 1050 De Domenico v Marshall [1999] FCA 1305 Empirnall Holdings Pty Ltd v Machon Paull Partners Pty Ltd (1988) 14 NSWLR 523 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Glengallan Investments Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 471; [2004] HCA 55 ET-China.com International Holdings Ltd v Cheung (2021) 388 ALR 128; [2021] NSWCA 24 Fortune Food Manufacturer Pty Ltd v K Young Trading Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 407 Homburg Houtimport BV v Agrosin Private Ltd [2004] 1 AC 715 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 at 505; [1936] HCA 40 Instrumatic Ltd v Supabrase Ltd [1969] 1 WLR 51 McPhee v S Bennett Ltd (1934) 52 WN (NSW) 8 Namoi Sustainable Energy Pty Ltd v Buhren [2022] NSWSC 175 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Ltd (2020) 103 NSWLR 36; [2020] NSWCCA 220 Peisley v Maddrell Management Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1477 Piddington v Bennett & Wood Pty Ltd (1940) 63 CLR 533; [1940] HCA 2 Pivovarova v Michelsen [2019] 2 Qd R 508; [2019] QCA 256. Precision Flooring Pty Ltd v Armstrong [2021] NSWSC 844 R v Lewis; Ex parte Attorney General [1991] 2 Qd R 294 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Applicant S20/2002 (2003) 198 ALR 59 RL & D Investments Pty Ltd v Bisby [2002] NSWSC 1082; (2002) 37 MVR 479 Robinson v Woolworths Ltd (t/as Woolworths Plus Petrol Werrington) (2005) 64 NSWLR 612; [2005] NSWCCA 426 Schwartz Family Co Pty Ltd v Capitol Carpets Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 223 SFGB v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCAFC 2321 Sokolowski v Craine [2019] NSWSC 1123 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council (2001) 202 CLR 439; [2001] HCA 12 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Whitehaven Coal Mining Ltd v Pain [2018] NSWCA 229 Williams v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 278; [1986] HCA 88 Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd atf Chan & Naylor Parramatta Trust [2020] NSWCA 62 Texts Cited: M J Beazley, "The Distinction Between Questions of Fact and Law: A Question Without Answer?" (2013) 11 The Judicial Review 279 B Wickham, "The Procedural and Substantive Aspects of Applications for Special Leave to Appeal in the High Court of Australia" (2007) 28 Adelaide Law Review 153 Category: Principal judgment Parties: DJ & LJ Norman Pty Ltd (Applicant) Mark William Sheather (First Respondent) Victoria Riddick (Second Respondent) Representation: Mr A D Crossland (Applicant) Mr W R Chan (First Respondent) Mr K Roser (Second Respondent) File Number(s): 2021/208486 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Local Court of New South Wales Jurisdiction: Civil Date of Decision: 25 June 2021 Before: J Price LCM File Number(s): 2018/166387