In the matter of Cheal Industries Pty Ltd - Fitzpatrick v Cheal [2012] NSWSC 812

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Cheal Industries Pty Ltd - Fitzpatrick v Cheal [2012] NSWSC 812 Hearing dates: 17 July 2012 Decision date: 17 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Corporations List Before: Ward J Decision: Application for disqualification dismissed Catchwords: COURTS AND JUDGES - bias - reasonable apprehension of bias - basis of bias being alleged errors in principal judgment and subsequent judgment regarding the valuation of shareholding in company - allegations that trial judge failed to afford defendants procedural fairness in making certain findings - where, upon initial error in principal judgment being raised, further submissions were considered and trial judge varied the orders as made - where any error regarding valuation would fall within the rubric of appellable error - appellable error not being of itself sufficient to found a reasonable apprehension of bias - HELD - application dismissed Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adamson v Ede [2009] NSWCA 379 Angaston & District Hospital v Thamm (1987) 47 SASR 177 Australian National Industries Ltd v Spedley Securities Ltd (in liq) (1992) 26 NSWLR 411; (1992) 9 ACSR 309 Chaina v Alvaro Homes Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 353 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337 Fitzgerald v Director of Public Prosecutions (1991) 24 NSWLR 45 Hoffmann-La Roche & Co AG v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry [1975] AC 295 Holt v Protective Commissioner (1993) 31 NSWLR 227 Kassem v Crossley & Anor; Kassem v Krayem & Anor [2000] NSWCA 276 Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls & Ors [2011] HCA 48; (2011) 282 ALR 685 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507 Najjar v Haines (1991) 25 NSWLR 224 Raybos Australia Pty Ltd v Tectran Corporation Pty Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 272 Re Association of Architects of Australia; Ex parte Municipal Officers Association of Australia (1989) 63 ALJR 298 Re JRL; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 Re Keely; Ex parte Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd (1990) 64 ALJR 495; (1990) 94 ALR 1 Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568 Webb v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 41 Texts Cited: N/A Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Simone Leah Fitzpatrick (First Plaintiff) ACN 089 142 870 Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) James Mitchell Cheal (First Defendant) Cheal Industries Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Chilli Surfboards Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M B Evans (Plaintiffs) Ms R Francois (Defendants) Solicitors: Lathams Lawyers (Plaintiffs) Brown Wright Stein (Defendants) File Number(s): 09/291052