Litigation Fund WCX Pty Ltd v Homebuilding Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCA 16

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Litigation Fund WCX Pty Ltd v Homebuilding Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCA 16 Hearing dates: 21 November 2024 Date of orders: 20 February 2025 Decision date: 20 February 2025 Before: Ward P at [1]; Leeming JA at [59]; Basten AJA at [100] Decision: 1. Summons dismissed with costs. 2. The Sheriff of New South Wales is to file any brief written submissions (not exceeding 3 pages) as to the form of the costs order within 7 days. 3. Litigation Fund WCX Pty Limited is to file any brief written submissions (not exceeding 3 pages) as to the form of the costs order within 7 days thereafter. 4. Any brief written submissions by the Sheriff of New South Wales in response thereto (not exceeding 1 page) are to be filed within 3 days thereafter. 5. The form of the costs order will be determined on the papers. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Interpleader – Sheriff – whether interpleader required to be brought by Sheriff's alternate – whether proceedings are one to which the Sheriff is a party for the purposes of s 6(1)(a) of the Sheriff Act 2005 (NSW) – whether contravention of s 6 of the Sheriff Act 2005 (NSW) requires mandatory dismissal of proceedings – Summons dismissed with costs STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Construction of s 6(1) of the Sheriff Act 2005 (NSW) – whether reference to "the Sheriff's functions in relation to" refers to the function of commencing or maintaining legal proceedings to which the Sheriff is a party Legislation Cited: Australia Acts 1986 (Cth) and (UK) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Charter of Justice 1823 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Pt 8 Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW), ss 4, 5 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), s 48K Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 33 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), s 7(5) Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (NSW), Sch 1, Item 1.20[1] Legal Profession Uniform Law Sheriff Act 1900 (NSW) Sheriff Act 2005 (NSW), ss 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 18 Sheriff and Court Security Amendment Act 2024 (NSW), Sch 1, Item 3 Sheriff Regulation 2021 (NSW) Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 80D Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 7.1, 10.2, 36.16, 43.3, 43.4, 43.5, 43.6, 43.7, Pt 43 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151C Cases Cited: 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 73943 (2014) 88 NSWLR 488; [2014] NSWCA 409 Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd v Gordon (2006) 225 CLR 364; [2006] HCA 32 Capello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1021 Capello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 57 Cappello v Homebuilding Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 88 Cardaci v Cardaci [2023] WASCA 158 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543; [2002] HCA 49 David Grant & Co Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1995) 184 CLR 265; [1995] HCA 43 Douglas v Daher (2009) 253 ALR 627; [2009] NSWCA 58 Ex parte Chung (1861) 2 Legge 1458 HBSY Pty Ltd v Lewis [2024] HCA 35 Homebuilding Pty Ltd v Cappello (No 3) [2024] NSWDC 407 JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association v Fletcher; Grant Samuel Corporate Finance Pty Limited v Fletcher (2014) 85 NSWLR 644; [2014] NSWCA 31 Mangoola Coal Operations Pty Ltd v Muswellbrook Shire Council [2023] NSWCA 275 Metwally v University of Wollongong (1985) 60 ALR 68; [1985] HCA 28 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation v Navazi [2013] NSWCA 431 Nicholson v Nicholson [1974] 2 NSWLR 59 Pantorno v The Queen (1989) 166 CLR 466; [1989] HCA 18 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 Soia v Bennett (2014) 46 WAR 301; [2014] WASCA 27 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418; [1950] HCA 35 Tan v Owners Strata Plan 22014 (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1920 Texts Cited: J Bennett, "The Office of Sheriff: Historical Notes on its Evolution in New South Wales" (1976) 7 Sydney Law Review 360 W Prest (ed), Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England (Oxford University Press, 2016) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Litigation Fund WCX Pty Ltd (Applicant) Homebuilding Pty Ltd (First Respondent) The Sheriff of New South Wales (Second Respondent) The District Court of New South Wales (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Coshott (For applicant, with leave) C Marshall (Second Respondent)