Groth v Audet [2006] NSWCA 48

Reported Decision : 65 NSWLR 388

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Groth v Audet [2006] NSWCA 48 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): Monday 6 March 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 20 March 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Tobias JA at 2; Basten JA at 36

DECISION: Leave to appeal granted, but the appeal itself dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 1987 - certification requirement under s198L(2) - certificate not provided - consequence of breach - whether proceedings void ab initio - whether failure to provide certificate can be cured by subsequent provision - whether s198L(2) is a condition precedent to commencement of proceedings - legislative purpose of s198L

Civil Liability Act 2002 District Court Act 1973 District Court Rules 1973 Legal Profession Act 1987 ss 37, 127, 198J, 198K, 198L, 198M, 208P LEGISLATION CITED: Legal Profession Act 2004 Limitation Act 1969 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 s108 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules Workers Compensation Act 1987 ss 151C, 151D

Carroll v Mijovich (1991) 25 NSWLR 441 Dandashli v Dandashli (Court of Appeal, 16 December 1996, Unreported) Diaz v Truong [2002] NSWCA 265 Emad Trolley Pty Ltd v Shigar (2003) 57 NSWLR 636 Gordon v Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 62 NSWLR 427 CASES CITED: John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503 Lemoto v Able Technical Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 153 Mealing v P Chand (2003) 57 NSWLR 305 Morrison v Judd (Court of Appeal, 10 October 1995, Unreported) Nominal Defendant v Manning (2000) 50 NSWLR 139 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Sydney Ports Corporation v Collins (2003) 56 NSWLR 232