Gouros & Ors v Order of AHEPA NSW Incorporated [2023] NSWSC 1281

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gouros & Ors v Order of AHEPA NSW Incorporated [2023] NSWSC 1281 Hearing dates: 14, 20, 22, 26 September and 3 October 2023 Date of orders: 31 October 2023 Decision date: 31 October 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Corporations List Before: Black J Decision: Parties to bring in agreed orders that give effect to this judgment, including as to costs, within 14 days and, in the event of any disagreement between them, their respective short minutes of order and short submissions as to the differences between them. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Inherent power — Abuse of process — Where plaintiffs are largely similar to parties or witnesses in previous proceedings that determined largely the same issues — Where the plaintiffs seeks to reagitate declarations of the NSW Court of Appeal as properly construed — Whether discretion to dismiss the claims for relief for abuse of process should be exercised. CIVIL PROCEDURE — Parties — Misjoinder or non-joinder — Where members of an incorporated association or an appropriate representative not joined to proceedings — Whether orders sought would have a direct effect on members' rights or liabilities. JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS — Declarations of right — Where no operative relief is sought — Whether declarations would leave other issues undetermined or are an anterior step to future disputes. Legislation Cited: - Associations Incorporation Act 1984 (NSW) - Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 175, 440D, 1322 - Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 136 - Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75 Cases Cited: - Ann Street Mezzanine Pty Ltd (in liq) v Beck (2009) 175 FCR 532; [2009] FCA 333 - Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Inc v United Moslems New South Wales Inc [2021] NSWCA 311 - Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 - Cleary v Jeans (2006) 65 NSWLR 355; [2006] NSWCA 9 - Commissioner of State Revenue v Mondous (2018) 55 VR 643; [2018] VSCA 185 - Ekes v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2014] NSWCA 336 - Hana v Shad Legal Services Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 258 - Idoport v National Australia Bank Ltd [2006] NSWCA 202 - John Alexander's Clubs Pty Ltd v White City Tennis Club Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 1; [2010] HCA 19 - Lianos v Order of AHEPA NSW Inc [2020] NSWCA 193 - Lianos v Order of AHEPA NSW Inc (No 2) [2020] NSWCA 304 - Lianos v Order of AHEPA NSW Inc (No 3) [2020] NSWCA 340 - Lianos v Order of AHEPA NSW Inc (No 4) [2021] NSWCA 159 - Muriniti v Lawcover Insurance Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 90 - Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips (1974) 131 CLR 286; [1974] HCA 18 - News Ltd v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd (1996) 64 FCR 410 - O'Shane v Harbour Radio (2013) 85 NSWLR 698; [2013] NSWCA 315 - O'Toole v Charles David Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 232 - Pi v Zhou [2016] NSWCA 148 - Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589; [1981] HCA 45 - Re HIH Insurance Ltd (in liq); De Bortoli Wines (Superannuation) Pty Ltd v McGrath (2014) 101 ACSR 1; [2014] NSWSC 774 - Re Motasea Pty Ltd (2014) 97 ACSR 589; [2014] NSWSC 69 - Re Order of AHEPA NSW Inc [2018] NSWSC 458 - Re Order of AHEPA NSW Inc [2019] NSWSC 1329 - Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Bairsdow [2004] Ch 1 - Sheridan v Colin Biggers & Paisley [2019] NSWSC 621 - State Bank of New South Wales Ltd v Stenhouse Ltd [1997] Aust Torts Reports 81-423 - Tiufino v Warland (2000) 50 NSWLR 104; [2000] NSWCA 110 - Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507; [2015] HCA 28 - Tyne (Trustee) v UBS AG (No 2) (2017) 341 ALR 415; [2017] FCAFC 5 - Webster v Super Smart Strategies Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 531 - Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509 - Young v Annis-Brown t/as Lincoln Smith & Co [2011] NSWSC 890 Texts Cited: J D Heydon et al, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity, Doctrines and Remedies (LexisNexis, 5th ed, 2015) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Con Gouros (First Plaintiff) Penny Cretan (Second Plaintiff) George Lianos (Third Plaintiff) Demetrios James Antonakos (Fourth Plaintiff) Anthony Alexandrou (Fifth Plaintiff) Maria Alexandrou (Sixth Plaintiff) Evangelia (Ann) Bouris (Seventh Plaintiff) Order of AHEPA NSW Incorporated (First Defendant) Bayside Council (Second Defendant) AHEPA Chiron Incorporated (Third Defendant) AHEPA Anatole Incorporated (Fourth Defendant) AHEPA Antigone No 27 Incorporated (Fifth Defendant) AHEPA Platon Incorporated (Sixth Defendant) AHEPA Alexandros Incorporated (Seventh Defendant) AHEPA Diogenis Incorporated (Eighth Defendant) AHEPA Ippokratis Incorporated (Ninth Defendant) AHEPA Odysseas Elytis Incorporated (Tenth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Pritchard SC/D Klineberg (Plaintiffs) F Corsaro SC/ Mr A Rizk (First and Third to Tenth Defendants)