Owners Corporation SP6534 v Elkhouri; Owners Corporation SP6534 v Perpetual Corporate Trust Ltd [2024] NSWCA 279

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Owners Corporation SP6534 v Elkhouri; Owners Corporation SP6534 v Perpetual Corporate Trust Ltd [2024] NSWCA 279 Hearing dates: 26-27 August 2024 Date of orders: 27 November 2024 Decision date: 27 November 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; McHugh JA at [2]; Griffiths AJA at [338]. Decision: See paragraph [337] Catchwords: COURTS AND JUDGES – Supreme Court – Jurisdiction – Whether Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to make declaration that condition of by-law unjust – Where statute conferred function of finding condition unjust on NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal LAND LAW – Strata title – By-laws – Whether condition of by-law that exclusive use rights cease unless obligations complied with unjust – Whether condition harsh, oppressive or unconscionable – Whether respondents liable in damages under by-law for failure to comply with obligations under by-law – Whether respondents liable for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in recovering outstanding levies – Whether respondents liable for costs and expenses incurred in claiming damages under by-law Legislation Cited: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW), Sch 4, Subcll 5, 6, 8 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 98 Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW), ss 4, 7, 9 Industrial Arbitration Act 1912 (NSW), s 49 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 34, 35 Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), ss 8, 86, 90, 135, 139, 142, 144, 145, 149, 150 Cases Cited: Ainsworth and Others v Albrecht and Another (2016) 261 CLR 167; [2016] HCA 40 Cooper v The Owners – Strata Plan No 58068 (2020) 103 NSWLR 160; [2020] NSWSC 250 El Khouri v Owners Corporation SP6534 [2024] NSWSC 537 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited and Another (1972) 127 CLR 421; [1972] HCA 61 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Ippolito v Cesco [2020] NSWSC 561 Josephson v Walker (1914) 18 CLR 691; [1914] HCA 68 Kaye v The Owners - Strata Plan No 4350 [2022] NSWSC 1386 Lawrence v Gunner; Gunner v Lawrence [2015] NSWSC 944 MacLeod v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 6544 [1980] 2 NSWLR 691 Mulwala & District Services Club Ltd v Owners Strata Plan 37724 (2000) 50 NSWLR 458; [2000] NSWSC 1040 North Wind Pty Ltd v Proprietors — Strata Plan 3143 [1981] 2 NSWLR 809 Perpetual Corporate Trust Ltd v Owners Corporation SP6534; El Khouri v Owners Corporation SP6534 [2024] NSWSC 173 Perpetual Corporate Trust Ltd v Owners Corporation SP6534; El Khouri v Owners Corporation SP6534 (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 358 Salmar Holdings Pty Limited v Hornsby Shire Council [1971] 1 NSWLR 192 The Owners of Strata Plan No 3397 v Tate (2007) 70 NSWLR 344; [2007] NSWCA 207 The Owners of the Ship "Shin Kobe Maru" v Empire Shipping Company Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404; [1994] HCA 54 Westfield Management Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 528; [2007] HCA 45 Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2024/00115025 and 2024/00164446 Owners Corporation SP6534 (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) Karam Elkhouri (First Respondent/First Cross-Appellant) Philippe Elkhouri (Second Respondent/Second Cross-Appellant)