Mabel Dorothea Fligg v The Owners Strata Plan 53457 [2012] NSWSC 230

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mabel Dorothea Fligg v The Owners Strata Plan 53457 [2012] NSWSC 230 Hearing dates: 28 & 29 February 2012 Decision date: 15 March 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Slattery J Decision: Order that the defendant execute by 15 June 2012 the agreed remedial works provided for in the experts' conclave agreement made on 24 February 2012. Order the defendant pay 80 per cent of the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings. Order the defendant to pay the plaintiff's out of pocket expenses incurred to Mr John Worthington, Cardno NSW Pty Limited (Mr D. McMillan) and the solicitor Mr David Le Page. If remedial works are not successful in eliminating all water penetration and all calcium staining windows within three months of the date of this judgment, namely 15 June 2012, then the proceedings are to be re-listed by 30 June 2012 to determine any diminution in the market value of the plaintiff's apartment. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY - Strata titles - owners corporation's duty to maintain common property - water penetrates plaintiff's apartment in and after episodes of rain - some remedial works undertaken - only partially effective - experts agree on further remedial work to be executed - whether defendant should pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings - whether defendant should pay certain of the plaintiff's out of pocket expenses - whether diminution in market value of plaintiff's apartment, if works not carried out. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act, 1973 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Australian Securities Commission v Aust-Home Investments Limited (1993) 44 FCR 194 Baillieu Knight Frank (NSW) Pty Ltd v Ted Manny Real Estate Pty Ltd (1992) 30 NSWLR 359 Coffs Ex-Services Memorial & Sporting Club Limited v Coffs Harbour Catholic Recreation & Sporting Club Limited [2010] NSWSC 605 Degman Pty Limited (in liquidation) v Wright (No. 2) (1983) 2 NSWLR 354 Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs Pty Limited v Gloria Stack [2003] NSWCA 302 Flight Centre v Janice Louw [2011] NSWSC 132 James v Surf Road Nominees Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2005] NSWCA 296 Harrison v Schipp; Cameron v Schipp [2001] NSWCA 13 Hypec Electronics Pty Limited (in liquidation) v Mead (2004) 61 NSWLR 169 In Re Wilcox; Venture Industries Pty Limited (No 2) (1996) 72 FCR 151 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Lin & Anor v The Owners - Strata Plan No 50276 (2004) 11 BPR 21,463 Lubrano v Proprietors of Strata Plan 4038 (1993) 6 BPR 13, 308 Ohn v Walton (1995) 36 NSWLR 77 Oldham v Lawson (No. 1) [1976] VR 654 One.Tel Limited v Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 101 FCR 548 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 NMFM Property Pty Limited v Citibank Ltd (No 2) (2001) 109 FCR 77 Paramount Pictures Corporation v Hasluck (2006) 70 IPR 293. Re: The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and the Commonwealth of Australia ex parte Lia Qin (1997) 186 CLR 622 Ridis v Proprietors of Strata Plan 10308 (2005) 63 NSWLR 449 Seiwa Pty Ltd v Owners Strata Plan 35042 [2006] NSWSC 1157 State of New South Wales v Corby (2010) 76 NSWLR 439 Sydney Ferries v Morton (No.2) [2010] NSWCA 238 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 Trevallyn-Jones v Owners Strata Plan No 50358 [2009] NSWSC 694 Vincent v Peacock (1973) 1 NSWLR 466 Zreika v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWCA 99 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff:- Mabel Dorothea Fligg Defendant:- The Owners Strata Plan 53457 Representation: Plaintiff:- R. Horsley Defendant:- D. A. Moujalli Plaintiff:- Jonathan Abbott, Jonathan Abbott & Associates Defendant:- Duncan Stuart, McCulloch and Buggy File Number(s): 2010/328338