Thoo v The Owners Strata Plan No. 50276 [2011] NSWSC 657

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Thoo v The Owners Strata Plan No. 50276 [2011] NSWSC 657 Hearing dates: 16, 17, 18 and 24 August 2010 Decision date: 28 June 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Slattery J Decision: The defendant Owners Corporation in Strata Scheme 50276 found to have breached its duty in Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 s 62(2) by failing to provide sufficient exhaust ventilation capacity to the plaintiff's Lot 17 in such scheme. Resolution 7 at the 5 August 2009 AGM of Strata Plan 50276 declared invalid as failing to comply with Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 s 62(3). Inquiry as to damages ordered. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY - Strata and related titles and occupancy - whether an owners corporation required to upgrade an exhaust ventilation system to service the needs of a lot owner - whether owners corporation allowing the lot owner to connect to the exhaust ventilation system but refusing to guarantee any particular level of exhaust ventilation to the lot was a breach of Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 ss 62 (1) and (2) - whether special resolution of owners corporation complied with Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 s 62 (3) so the provisions of ss 62(1) and (2) did not apply to the exhaust ventilation system - whether if otherwise validly passed the special resolution was a fraud on the minority - whether the plaintiff has suffered any loss as a result of any breach of Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 ss 62 (1) or (2). Legislation Cited: Conveyancing (Strata Titles) Act 1961 (NSW) Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 (NSW) Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 62 Strata Schemes Management Amendment Act 2004 (NSW), s 65A Cases Cited: British Equitable Assurance Co Ltd v Baily [1906] AC 35 Bull v Bull [1955] 1 QB 234 Burns v National Coal Board [1957] SC 239 Carre v Owners Corporation - Strata Plan 53020 (2003) 58 NSWLR 302 Eventang Development (Pyrmont) Pty Limited v Owners Strata Plan 51573 [2001] NSWSC 452 Gambotto v WCP Limited (1995) 182 CLR 432 Goodtitle v Tombs (1770) 3 Wils 118; (1770) 95 ER 965 Heydon v NRMA Limited & Ors (2000) 51 NSWLR 1 Houghton v Immer (No. 155) Pty Ltd (1997) 44 NSWLR 46 Lin & Anor v The Owners - Strata Plan No 50276 (2004) 11 BPR 21,463 Lubrano v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 4038 (1993) 6 BPR 13,308 Luke v Luke (1936) 36 SR NSW 310 Moisley v Mahony [1950] VLR 318 Northwind Pty Ltd v The Proprietors - Strata Plan No. 3143 (1981) 2 NSWLR 809 Owners - Strata Plan 43551 v Walter Construction Group Ltd (2004) 62 NSWLR 169 R v Australian Stevedoring Industry Board; Ex parte Melbourne Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd (1953) 88 CLR 100 R v Dunphy & Australian Industrial Court; ex parte Maynes (1978) 139 CLR 482 R v Connell; ex parte The Hetton Bellbird Collieries Limited (No. 2) (1944) 69 CLR 407 Ridis v Proprietors of Strata Plan 10308 (2005) 63 NSWLR 449 Seiwa Pty Ltd v Owners Strata Plan 35042 [2006] NSWSC 1157 Stolfa v Hempton (2010) 15 BRP 28,253 Stolfa v The Owners of Strata Plan 4366 [2009] NSWSC 589 The Proprietors of Strata Plan No 159 v Blake [1986] NSW Titles Cases 50,650 The Proprietors of Strata Plan No. 6522 v Furney & Anor (1976) 1 NSWLR 412 The Proprietors of Strata Plan (No. 30234) v Margiz Pty Ltd (1993) 32 NSWLR 294 The Proprietors of Strata Plan No 464 v Oborn (1975) 1 BPR 9,623 Vatcher v Paull [1915] AC 372 Young v Owners of Strata Plan (No 3529)(2001) 54 NSWLR 60 Texts Cited: Sugden,Sir Edward Burtenshaw; A Practical Treatise of Powers, 5th Edition, 1831, at 415 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff- Chee Min Thoo Defendant- The Owners Strata Plan No. 50276 Representation: Counsel: Plainitff- A.J.McInerney, B. Koch Defendant- V.F.Kerr Solicitors: Plaintiff- P.Sarvaas, Sarvaas Ciappara Lawyers Defendant- R.Cheung, Rutland's Law Firm File Number(s): 08/277829