Phillip Edward Lonergan v Roy Lewis [2011] NSWSC 1133

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Phillip Edward Lonergan v Roy Lewis [2011] NSWSC 1133 Hearing dates: 20 to 21 September 2011 Decision date: 13 October 2011 Before: Ball J Decision: See paragraph 59 of this judgment. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY - easements - whether easement should be granted by Court under Conveyancing Act s 88K - rights over neighbouring property's stairs in order to access land - whether reasonably necessary - reasonableness of current property owner regarding use of stairs not relevant to question of whether easement reasonably necessary - whether plaintiff should have joined owners of neighbouring properties who also had easements over the stairs - consequences of non-joinder - compensation - assessment of compensation - can consider increased value to plaintiff when determining compensation in certain circumstances. Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) Fire Brigades Act 1989 (NSW) Property Legislation Amendment (Easements) Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: 117 York Street Pty Ltd v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 16123 (1998) 43 NSWLR 504 Board of Fire Commissioners (NSW) v Ardouin (1961) 109 CLR 105 at 127; [1962] ALR 719 Durack v de Winton (1998) 9 BPR 16,403 Etwell v Newcastle City Council [2006] NSWSC 1165 Goodwin v Yee Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 8 BPR 15,795 John Alexander's Clubs Pty Ltd v White City Tennis Club Limited [2010] HCA 19; (2010) 241 CLR 1 Khattar v Wiese [2005] NSWSC 1014 Mitchell v Boutagy (2001) 10 BPR 19,187 Owners Strata Plan 13635 v Ryan [2006] NSWSC 221 Southport Corporation v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1953] 2 All ER 1204 State of Victoria v Sutton [1998] HCA 56; (1998) 195 CLR 291 Wengarin Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council (1999) 9 BPR 16,985 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Phillip Edward Lonergan (First Plaintiff) Simone Fiona Lonergan (Second Plaintiff) Roy Lewis (Defendant) Representation: Mr V V Bedrossian (Plaintiffs) Mr P M Barham (Defendant) Etheringtons Solicitors (Plaintiffs) John de Mestre & Co (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/45884