Sargeant v HE & FG Campbell Agricultural Machinery Repairs [2016] NSWSC 544

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sargeant v HE & FG Campbell Agricultural Machinery Repairs [2016] NSWSC 544 Hearing dates: 28 April 2016 Decision date: 02 May 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: See paragraph 77 Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – appeal from interlocutory decision of Local Court refusing to set aside default judgment – defendant in Local Court gave explanation for failure to file defence and asserted a bona fide defence in sworn affidavit – Magistrate disregard of sworn evidence caused discretion to miscarry – default judgment set aside

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – plaintiff named in statement of claim unregistered business name – lack of legal personality of plaintiff constitutes "substantial irregularity" – judgment given irregularly Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58, 59, 100 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 21, 80 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW), ss 40, 41 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 7.1, 7.19, 7.20, 7.21, 7.22, 14.7, 14.12, 35.1, 36.15, 36.16 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW), s 6 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Cases Cited: Arnold v Forsythe [2012] NSWCA 18 B & L Linings Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2008] NSWCA 187; 74 NSWLR 481 Carr v Finance Corporation of Australia Ltd (No. 1) (1981) 147 CLR 246 Dai v Zhu [2013] NSWCA 412 Dunwoodie v Teachers Mutual Bank Ltd [2014] NSWCA 24 Fenato v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2010] NSWCA 80; 78 NSWLR 20 Hassoun v Wesfarmers General insurance Ltd t/as Lumley General [2016] NSWCA 76 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Magnate Projects Pty Ltd v Youma Constructions (No 2) Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 331 Mamo v Surace [2014] NSWCA 58; 86 NSWLR 275 Michail v Mount Druitt and Area Community Legal Centre Inc [2015] NSWCA 396 Owners Strata Plan 4003 v Mustafa [2012] NSWSC 780 Perpetual Trustees Australia Ltd v Heperu Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 387; 78 NSWLR 190 Thaina Town (on Goulburn) Pty Ltd v City of Sydney Council [2007] NSWCA 300; 71 NSWLR 230 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Raymond Paul Sargeant (Plaintiff) HE & FG Campbell Agricultural Machinery Repairs (1st Defendant) Hugh Edwin Campbell (2nd Defendant) Fiona Gay Campbell (3rd Defendant) Representation: Counsel: T O'Brien (Plaintiff) P Reynolds (Defendants)