Choi v NSW Ombudsman [2025] NSWCA 26

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Choi v NSW Ombudsman [2025] NSWCA 26 Hearing dates: 24 February 2025 Date of orders: 28 February 2025 Decision date: 28 February 2025 Before: Griffiths AJA Decision: (1) Order pursuant to s 5B of the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW) that Ms Choi appear by audio-visual link from South Korea. (2) The amended summons filed 28 November 2024 is dismissed under r 13.4 of the UCPR. (3) The applicant in the amended summons pay the first respondent's costs of and incidental to the first respondent's notice of motion filed 10 December 2024. (4) The applicant's notice of motion filed 10 December 2024 is dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: COURTS AND JUDGES — application for recusal — whether apprehended bias — where allegation of apprehended bias based on association — where allegation of apprehended bias arose from outcome of internal court administrative procedures — where complaint made to the Judicial Commission CIVIL PROCEDURE — summary disposal — dismissal of proceedings — where no reasonable cause of action disclosed — where proceedings are an abuse of process Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 91 Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW), s 5B Judicial Officers Act 1986 (NSW), s 20 Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 13.4, 14.28 Cases Cited: Bakarich v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2010] NSWCA 43 Charisteas v Charisteas (2021) 273 CLR 289; [2021] HCA 29 Choi v NSW Ombudsman [2024] NSWSC 352 Choi v NSW Ombudsman [2024] NSWSC 940 Doulaveras v Daher (2009) 253 ALR 627; [2009] NSWCA 58 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Isbester v Knox City Council (2015) 255 CLR 135; [2015] HCA 20 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488; [2000] HCA 48 Kaldas v Barbour (2022) 107 NSWLR 341; [2017] NSWCA 275 Re JRL; Ex Parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 at 352; [1986] HCA 39 Webb v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 41; [1991] HCA 30 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jae Hee Choi (Applicant) NSW Ombudsman (First Respondent) NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Choi (Applicant) (in person)