Amirbeaggi v NSW Legal Services Commissioner [2023] NSWSC 555

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Amirbeaggi v NSW Legal Services Commissioner [2023] NSWSC 555 Hearing dates: 2 February 2023 Date of orders: 26 May 2023 Decision date: 26 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Brereton JA Decision: Summons dismissed with costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Jurisdictional error – Subjective jurisdictional pre-requisite – Decision of Legal Services Commissioner – Where reasons did not explicitly state requisite opinion formed – Whether basis to draw inference requisite opinion not formed – Where open to Commissioner to form that opinion – Where matter not agitated in submissions – Where relatively informal procedure for the resolution of low level consumer complaint – Reasons not required to state findings of every uncontroversial jurisdictional pre-requisite – Not established that opinion not formed ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Jurisdictional error – Irrelevant and relevant considerations – Statutory construction – Whether attempt at informal resolution jurisdictional pre-requisite – Requirement not jurisdictional pre-requisite – Commissioner did attempt informal resolution – No error established ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Jurisdictional error – Whether imposition of caution manifestly unreasonable – Where it was open to decision-maker to be satisfied conduct contravened Solicitor's Rules r 4.1.2 and that caution was fair and reasonable – No error established ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Jurisdictional error – Whether costs decision affected by jurisdictional error and/or error on the face of the record – Decision not made without regard to terms of retainer – Decision not arbitrary – Decision rational and open to Commissioner – No error established Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW), s 200, s 269, s 285, s 286, s 287, s 288, s 289, s 290, s 292, s 313, s 315, s 316 Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules 2015 (NSW), r 4.1.2, r 13.1 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: ABT17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2020) 269 CLR 439; [2020] HCA 34 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2006] NSWSC 1096; (2006) 47 MVR 46 Bankstown Municipal Council v Fripp (1919) 26 CLR 385; [1919] HCA 41 Barrick Australia Ltd v Williams (2009) 74 NSWLR 733; [2009] NSWCA 275 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280; [1993] FCA 456 Darley Australia Pty Ltd v Walfertan Processors Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 48 Eatts v Dawson (1990) 21 FCR 166; [1990] FCA 216 Lander v Council of the Law Society of the ACT (2009) 168 ACTR 32; (2009) ACTSC 117 Law Society of NSW re Constantine Karageorge, Solicitors' Statutory Committee, (15 July 1987) Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 151 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration & Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZGUR (2011) 241 CLR 594; [2011] HCA 1 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS (2010) 240 CLR 611; [2010] HCA 16 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Minister for Immigration v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611; [1999] HCA 21 Plaintiff S183/2021 v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 15; 96 ALJR 464 Politis v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) [1988] FCA 739 Prouten v Chapman [2021] NSWCA 207 Queensland v Wyvill (1989) 25 FCR 512; [1989] FCA 732 R v Alley; Ex parte New South Wales Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union (1981) 153 CLR 376; [1981] HCA 61 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Farshad Amirbeaggi (plaintiff) NSW Legal Services Commissioner (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms B K Nolan (plaintiff) Ms R Withana (defendant)