Campolongo v Club Marconi of Bossley Park Social Recreation & Sporting Centre Ltd [2012] NSWSC 750

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Campolongo v Club Marconi of Bossley Park Social Recreation & Sporting Centre Ltd [2012] NSWSC 750 Hearing dates: 21 June 2012 Decision date: 04 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Ward J Decision: Proceedings dismissed Catchwords: REMEDIES - declaratory relief - relief sought by plaintiff in relation to whether 2010 suspension from association valid under association's constitution - whether there is a justiciable issue in the absence of a proprietary right or damage to livelihood or reputation - company limited by guarantee - whether the association's constitution is a binding contract or a consensual compact - whether any utility in granting declaratory relief where association concedes that 2010 suspension was invalid - HELD - association's constitution constitutes a binding contract - there is justiciable issue - no utility in relief sought - proceedings dismissed Legislation Cited: Associations Incorporation Act 1984 (NSW) Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Companies Act 1936 (NSW) Companies Act 1961 (NSW) Companies Act 1981 (Cth) Companies (Application of Laws) Act 1981 (NSW) Corporations Act 1989 (Cth) Corporations (New South Wales) Act 1990 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Corporations (Ancillary Provisions) Act 2001 (NSW) Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358 Capgemini US v Case [2004] NSWSC 674 Carter v NSW Netball Association [2004] NSWSC 737 Castle v Director General State Emergency Service [2008] NSWCA 231 Coles v Wood [1981] 1 NSWLR 723 Dixon v Australian Society of Accountants (1989) 95 FLR 231; 87 ACTR 1 Fitzpatrick v Lithgow and District Workmens Club Ltd [2012] NSWSC 265 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd [1972] HCA 61; (1972) 127 CLR 421 Frackelton's Case (1909) 8 CLR 673 Gates v Vickery (1973) ACLC 27,517 Goodwin v Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Club Australia NSW Chapter Inc (2008) 72 NSWLR 224 Hanson v Radcliffe Urban District Council [1922] 2 Ch 490 Henderson v Kane and the Pioneer Club [1924] NZLR 1073 Hornby v Narrandera Ex-Servicemen's Club Ltd [2001] NSWSC 235 Ibeneweka v Egbuna [1964] 1 WLR 219 Lohar Corp Pty Ltd v Dibu Pty Ltd (1976) 1 BPR 9177 Marra Developments Ltd v B W Rofe Pty Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 616 McClelland v Burning Palms Surf Life Saving Club (2002) 191 ALR 759 McManus v Lithgow and District Workmen's Club Ltd (NSWSC, 25 May 1981, unreported) Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips [1974] HCA 18; (1974) 131 CLR 286; (1974) 3 ALR 151 Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316 Rana & Ors v Survey & Ors [2012] NSWSC 439 Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (Advisory Opinions Case) [1921] HCA 20; (1921) 29 CLR 257 Rivers v Bondi Junction-Waverley RSL Sub-Branch Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 362 Rose v Boxing NSW Inc [2007] NSWSC 20 Sutherland Shire Council v Leyendekkers [1970] 1 NSWR 356 Trans Realties Pty Limited v Grbac [1975] 1 NSWLR 170 Western Australia in Rush v WA Amateur Football League (Inc) [2007] WASCA 190; (2007) 35 WAR 101 Wilcox v Kogarah Golf Club (1995) 14 ACLC 421 Wise v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1903] AC 139 Zuellig v Pulver [2000] NSWSC 7 Zusman v Royal Western Australian Bowling Association (Inc) [1999] WASC 86 Texts Cited: Halsbury's Laws of Australia (3rd ed) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Antonio Campolongo (Plaintiff/Respondent) Club Marconi of Bossley Park Social Recreation & Sporting Centre Ltd (Defendant/Applicant) Representation: Counsel: M W Sneddon (Plaintiff) M Fisher (Defendant) Solicitors: CMC Lawyers (Plaintiff) Middletons (Defendant) File Number(s): 12/093531