Xabregas v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 79205; Moallem v Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal & Ors (No. 2) [2014] NSWSC 1027

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Xabregas v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 79205; Moallem v Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal & Ors (No. 2) [2014] NSWSC 1027 Hearing dates: 22 November 2013 Decision date: 31 July 2014 Before: White J Decision: Refer to para [107] of judgment Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - costs - application for personal costs order against solicitor - whether sufficient basis to make order where solicitor had advised making of application that had no reasonable prospects of success - application refused STRATA SCHEMES - proceedings between owners corporation and lot owners - application for personal costs order against compulsory strata managing agent for costs incurred and payable by owners corporation in connection with unsuccessful application and defence - application granted with respect to application but not defence - whether order should be made for differential levy on lot owners for costs payable by owners corporation under costs orders or for owners corporation's own costs - whether owners corporation to be restrained from making levies for its own costs Legislation Cited: Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 Supreme Court Act 1991 (UK) Legal Profession Act 1987 Cases Cited: Moallem v Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal & Ors [2013] NSWSC 1700 Owners, Strata Plan 50411 v Cameron North Sydney Investments Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 5 Symes v Proprietor Strata Plan 31731 [2003] NSWCA 7 Pacific Mirage Limited v Le Breton [2014] FCAFC 46 Short v Crawley (No. 45) [2013] NSWSC 1541 Newmont Yandal Operations Pty Ltd v J Aron Corporation [2007] NSWCA 195; (2007) 70 NSWLR 411 Xabregas v Owners Corporation Strata Plan No. 79205, Windeyer AJ, 25 October 2013, no medium neutral citation) Ivanhoe Gold Corporation Limited v Symonds (1906) 4 CLR 642 Ridehalgh v Horsefield [1994] Ch 205 Lemoto v Able Technical Pty Ltd (2005) 63 NSWLR 300 Ideal Waterproofing Pty Ltd v Buildcorp Australia Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 155 Wentworth v Rogers [1999] NSWCA 403 Karwala v Skryzypczak; Re Estate of Ratajczak [2007] NSWSC 931 Whyked Pty Ltd v Yahoo!7 Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 477 Hickey v Fitzpatrick [2010] NSWSC 1119 Ireland (as executor of the estate of the late Gordon) v Retallack (No. 2) [2011] NSWSC 1096 NA & J Investments Pty Ltd v Minister of Administering the Water Management Act 2000 (No. 2) [2011] NSWLEC 98 De Giorgio v Dunn (No. 2) [2005] NSWSC 3; (2005) 62 NSWLR 284 Levick v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 102 FCR 155 White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart (1998) 156 ALR 169 FPM Constructions v Council of the City of Blue Mountains [2005] NSWCA 340 May v Christodoulou [2011] NSWCA 75; (2011) NSWLR 462 Knight v FP Special Assets Limited [1992] HCA 28; (1992) 174 CLR 178 Kebaro Pty Ltd v Saunders [2003] FCAFC 5 Gannon v Owners - Strata Plan No. 4403 [2013] NSWSC 1916 Autodesk Inc v Dyason (1993) 176 CLR 300 Category: Costs Parties: Benvinda Aura Nunes Xabregas (Plaintiff 2011/244426; 4th Defendant 2013/327776) Owner's Corporation, SP 79205 (Defendant 2011/244426; 2nd Defendant 2013/327776) Susan Moallem (Plaintiff 2013/327776) Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (1st Defendant 2013/327776) Luiz Marcos (3rd Defendant 2013/327776) Westpac Banking Corporation (5th Defendant 2013/327776) Representation: Counsel: In Person (Dr Xabregas) D Radman, sol'r (Owners Corporation) M A Friedgut (Ms Moallem) By mention (CTTT) K Fraser (Westpac) P Silver (Progressive Strata Services Pty Ltd) C Fini (2nd Cross-Defendant on Cross-Summons - Owners Corporation) R Koffel (Koffels Pty Ltd) Solicitors: Slater & Gordon (Plaintiff) Crown Solicitor (1st Defendant) Grace Lawyers (2nd Defendant) Bannermans Lawyers (2nd Cross-Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/244426; 2013/327776