The Owners of Strata Plan 56117 v Drexler [2013] NSWDC 67

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Owners of Strata Plan 56117 v Drexler [2013] NSWDC 67 Hearing dates: 10 April 2013 - 17 April 2013 Decision date: 17 April 2013 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: 1. The appeal is dismissed. 2. The orders of the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal dated 24 August 2012 (at Red Appeal Book 21) should be affirmed. 3. The plaintiff should pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: APPEAL FROM CONSUMER TRADER AND TENANCY TRIBUNAL - strata scheme by-law - keeping a dog - "hearing dog" - "used as a hearing dog" - public behaviour of dog - "assistance animal" - "taking of legal action" - "initiate legal action" Legislation Cited: Companion Animals Act 1998, s 72 Companion Animals Regulation 2008, reg 18 Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001, s 28, s 67 Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), s 9, s 54 Legal Professional Act 2004, Pt 3.2 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996, s 21, s 49, s 80D Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2010, reg 15 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Redmore Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 15, (1989) 166 CLR 454 Baker v R [2004] HCA 45, (2004) 223 CLR 513 Bell v Day (1886) 2 QLJ 180 Craig Williamson Pty Ltd v Barrowcliff [1915] VLR 450 Edyp v Brazbuild Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 218 Farah Contructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Forest v Queensland Health [2007] FCA 936 Keramaniakis v Wagstaff [2005] NSWDC 14 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd [2010] HCA 32 Master Education Services Pty Ltd v Ketchell [2008] HCA 38, (2008) 82 ALJR 1322 Owners of Strata Plan 2187 v Astoria Asset Management Limited, 14 October 2011, unreported, Olsson SC DCJ Owners SP No 46528 v Hall [2009] NSWSC 278 Pilmer v The Duke Group Ltd (in liq) [2001] HCA 31, (2001) 207 CLR 165 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary D C Pearce and R S Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 7th ed (2011) LexisNexis Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Owners of Strata Plan 56117 (plaintiff) Leonie Drexler (first defendant) Brian Drexler (second defendant) Representation: Mr J J Garnsey QC with Mr D P O'Connor (plaintiff) Mr I Wylie (first and second defendants) Makinson & d'Apice Lawyers (plaintiff) Mourice Wermut & Co (first and second defendants) File Number(s): 2012/298328 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2011-08-24 00:00:00 Before: Member J Ringrose File Number(s): SCS 12/03426