Re Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited [2014] NSWSC 533

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Re Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited [2014] NSWSC 533 Hearing dates: 1, 5, 7 and 9 May 2014 Decision date: 20 May 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Lindsay J Decision: Order for interlocutory injunction, with reservation of liberty to apply for directions Catchwords: PROCEDURE - Case Management - Application for interlocutory injunction - Corporation - Oppression or unfair conduct - Dispute resolution procedure - Application for discharge of order for appointment of referee - injunction sought pending hearing of that application - Substantial question to be tried - Balance of convenience - Undertaking as to damages - Security required for undertaking

EQUITABLE REMEDIES - Injunctions - Interlocutory injunctions - Jurisdiction - Serious question to be tried - Balance of convenience - Injunctions to preserve status quo and property pending determination of rights - Relevance of case management principles

CORPORATIONS - Membership, rights and remedies - Members' remedies and internal disputes - Oppressive or unfair conduct - Relief - Procedure - Court-appointed referee - Breakdown in dispute resolution procedure - Availability of remedies Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW Part 6 Corporations Act, 2001 Cth Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 NSW. Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Limited v Philip Morris Incorporated (1981) 148 CLR 170 at 177-178 Australian Hardboards Limited v Hudson Investment Group Limited (2007) 70 NSWLR 201 Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 at 531-534 Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457 at 494 [126]-[128] Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304 at 330 [58] and 359 [174] Carr v Finance Corp of Australia Limited (No 1) (1981) 147 CLR 246) Derrawee Pastoral Company Pty Limited v McConochie [1995] NSWCA 123. Dynasty Pty Ltd v Coombs (1995) 59 FCR 122 at 143-146 Haines v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995) 43 NSWLR 404 at 410 Hall v Nominal Defendant (1966) 117 CLR 423 at 440 Henderson v Henderson (1843) 3 Hare 100; 67 ER 313 Hua Cheng Properties Pty Limited v Hua Cheng International Holdings Group Pty Limited [2012] NSWSC 1482 Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited and Ors v Xu and Ors [2013] NSWSC 1784 Ian Allan Byrne v AJ Byrne Pty Limited [2012] NSWSC 667 at [43]-[50] In the matter of Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited ACN 123 629 283 [2013] NSWSC 373 In the matter of Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1869 Jackson v Goldsmith (1950) 81 CLR 446 at 466-467 Kuligowski v Metrobus (2004) 220 CLR 363 at 373 [21] Licul v Corney (1976) 180 CLR 213 Lord v Dernacourt Investments Pty Limited (unreported, SC (NSW), McLelland CJ in Eq, 3202/91, 14 March 1994) BC 9402299 at 5-6 Lu v Hua Cheng International [2010] NSWSC 228 Meehan v Glazier Holdings Pty Limited (2002) 54 NSWLR 146 at 153 [35]-[36] Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Limited (1981) 147 CLR 589 at 597-604 Re HR Harmer Ltd [1959] 1 WLR 62 Re Spargos Mining NL (1990) 3 WAR 166; 3 ACSR 1; 8 ACLC 1218. Reichel v Magrath (1889) 14 App Cas 665 at 668; (1889) 14 App Cas 665 at 668 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Limited (2001) 53 NSWLR 198 Shirim v Fesena [2002] NSWSC 10 at [12]-[15] Smith Martis Cork & Rajon Pty Ltd v Benjamin Corporation Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 153; 207 ALR 136 at [70]-[78] Texts Cited: - Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Hong Xia Xia (Plaintiff) Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited ACN 123 629 283 (First Defendant) Lawrence Xu (Second Defendant) Yaying Lu (Third Defendant) Leiping Huang (Fourth Defendant) Yaying Lu (First Cross Claimant) Leiping Juang (Second Cross Claimant) Hua Cheng International Holdings Group Pty Limited ACN 119 031 971 (First Cross Defendant) Lawrence Xu (Second Cross Defendant) Hong Xia Xia (Third Cross Defendant) Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited ACN 123 629 283 (Fourth Cross Defendant) Thomas Xi Yao Xy (Fifth Cross Defendant) Qiao Wang (Sixth Cross Defendant) Yaying Lu (First Applicant) Leiping Huang (Second Applicant) Lawrence Xu (First Respondent) Hua Cheng Property Pty Limited ACN 123 629 283 (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Studdy SC and J Tobin (Applicants) BW Rayment QC and MK Rollinson (First Respondent) Solicitors: Watson Mangioni Lawyers Pty Limited (Applicants) Oliveri Attorneys (First Respondent) File Number(s): 2013/00222537 2013/0026387