2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd v The Owners - Strata Plan No 73943 [2014] NSWCA 409

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd v The Owners - Strata Plan No 73943 [2014] NSWCA 409 Hearing dates: 8 October 2014 Decision date: 05 December 2014 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Barrett JA at [9]; Leeming JA at [67] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: CORPORATIONS - commencement of proceedings by owners corporation without authority - effect of ratification by general meeting

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION - whether Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 80D required obtaining approval for litigation before commenced - construction of Act as a whole - use of dictionary definitions - whether proceedings commenced without prior approval invalid or a nullity

STRATA TITLE - proceedings commenced by owners corporation without prior approval at general meeting - general meeting subsequently approves litigation - whether contravention of Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 80D - whether effect of contravention that proceedings be stayed or dismissed Legislation Cited: Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld), s 312 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 5F, 124 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), ss 18B, 18C, 18E, Sch 4 cl 109 Home Building Amendment Act 2011 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 50 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), s 7 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 80D Strata Schemes Management Amendment Act 2004 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151C Cases Cited: Alexander Ward & Co Ltd v Samyang Navigation Co Ltd [1975] 1 WLR 673 Ashbury Railway Carriage & Iron Co Ltd v Riche (1875) LR 7 HL 653 Australasian Memory Pty Ltd v Brien [2000] HCA 30; 200 CLR 270 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Redmore Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 15; 166 CLR 454 Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd v Gordon [2006] HCA 32; 225 CLR 364 Carre v Owners Corporation - Strata Plan 53020 [2003] NSWSC 397; 58 NSWLR 302 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd (1996) 186 CLR 389 David Grant & Co Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1995) 184 CLR 265 Doulaveras v Daher [2009] NSWCA 58; 253 ALR 627 Eastmark Holdings Pty Ltd v Kabraji [2013] NSWSC 1763; 97 ACSR 161 Eberstaller v Poulos [2014] NSWCA 211; 313 ALR 165 Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club Inc v Commissioner of Police [2008] HCA 4; 234 CLR 532 Massey v Wales [2003] NSWCA 212; 57 NSWLR 718 Master Education Services Pty Ltd v Ketchell [2008] HCA 38; 236 CLR 101 McEvoy v The Body Corporate for No 9 Port Douglas Road [2013] QCA 168 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal [2002] HCA 30; 76 ALJR 966 Owners - Strata Plan No 43551 v Walter Construction Group Ltd [2004] NSWCA 429; 62 NSWLR 169 Owners SP No 46528 v Hall [2009] NSWSC 278 Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2; 211 CLR 476 Project Blue Sky Pty Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 R v Brown [1996] AC 543 at 561 Smalley v Motor Accident Authority of New South Wales [2013] NSWCA 318; 85 NSWLR 580 The Owners - Strata Plan 5709 v Andrews [2009] NSWCA 189 The Owners - Strata Plan No 61288 v Brookfield Australia Investments Ltd [2013] NSWCA 317; 85 NSWLR 479 The Owners - Strata Plan No 70798 v Bakkante Constructions Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 410 The Owners Strata Plan No 73943 v 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1769 Thiess v Collector of Customs [2014] HCA 12; 250 CLR 664 Towers v African Tug Co Ltd [1904] 1 Ch 558 Zanardo & Rodgriguez Sales & Services Pty Ltd v Tolevski [2013] NSWCA 449 Texts Cited: EP Aprill, "The Law of the Word: Dictionary Shopping in the Supreme Court" (1998) 30 Ariz St L J 275 Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765-1769), Book 1, ch I8 EA Driedger, "Statutes: The Mischievous Literal Golden Rule" (1981) 59 Can Bar Rev 780 Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd (Appellant) The Owners - Strata Plan No 73943 (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Walker SC with P Kulevski (Appellant) J C Kelly SC with V F Kerr and T Buterin (Respondent)