John Richard Bryant v Hawkesbury Radio Communication Co-operative Society Limited [2014] NSWSC 848

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: John Richard Bryant v Hawkesbury Radio Communication Co-operative Society Limited [2014] NSWSC 848 Hearing dates: 5, 6 June 2014, further appearance and oral submissions 18 June 2014; written submissions 20 June 2014 Decision date: 27 June 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Sackar J Decision: See paragraphs [77] and [161] Catchwords: EQUITY - CO-OPERATIVES - where member of community radio station expelled at special general meeting - where proper notice of meeting but inadequate particulars provided and only at request of member - whether resolution to expel sufficiently precise - whether one or two stage approach necessary in light of Battle v Bundagen Co-Operative Ltd - whether plaintiff given reasonable opportunity to be heard - whether breach of natural justice

COSTS - whether costs should follow the event - proper exercise of discretion to order otherwise in case of successful plaintiff - where offer made by plaintiff totally unworkable - where breach of confidentiality by plaintiff in relation to settlement negotiations - where solicitors for plaintiff rejected mediation as unsuitable - whether factors taken together sufficient to order otherwise than that costs should follow the event Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Co-operatives Act 1992 Co-operatives Regulation 2005 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Anglo-Cyprian Trade Agencies Ltd v Paphos Wine Industries Ltd [1951] 1 All ER 873 Battle v Bundagen Co-operative Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 38 Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd v Gordian Runoff Ltd and Ors [2008] NSWCA 243 Bi v Mourad [2010] NSWCA 17 Byrne v Auckland Irish Society Inc [1979] 1 NZLR 351 Carter v The New South Wales Netball Association [2004] NSWSC 737 Commonwealth of Australia v Gretton [2008] NSWCA 117 Cordiant Communications (Australia) Pty Ltd v Communications Group Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 194 FLR 322; 55 ACSR 185 Forge v ASIC (2004) 52 ACSR 1 George Zoltan Ajkay v Hickey & Co Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 822 Hall v NSW Trotting Club [1977] 1 NSWLR 378 Hans Pet Constructions Pty Ltd v Cassar [2009] NSWCA 230 Hastings Point Progress Association v Tweed Council [2010] NSWCA 39 Hobbs v Marlowe [1978] AC 16 James v Surf Nominees Pty Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 296 Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 McLaughlin v Dungowan Manly Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 306 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Nicholls v Michael Wilson and Partners [2010] NSWCA 222 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 116; [2001] NSWCA 346 Ohn v Walton (1995) 36 NSWLR 77 Old v McInnes and Hodgkinson [2011] NSWCA 410 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1 Re Mullen [1995] 2 Qd R 608 Richards v Cornford (No 3) [2010] NSWCA 134 Ritter v Godfrey [1920] 2 KB 47 Robbins v Harness Racing Board [1984] 1 VR 641 Tomanovic v Global Mortgage Equity Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 256 Tsoukaris v Royal Motor Yacht Club [2012] NSWSC 1190 White v Overland [2001] FCA 1333 Whitney v Dream Developments [2013] NSWCA 188 Texts Cited: Dal Pont, The Law of Costs (2nd edition, 2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Richard Bryant - plaintiff Hawkesbury Radio Communication Co-operative Society Limited - defendant Representation: Counsel: A Rogers - plaintiff C A Evatt, R K Rasmussen - defendant Solicitors: Peter Prior & Co - plaintiff Stanford Lawyers - defendant File Number(s): 2013/311876