The Owners Strata Plan No 57164 v Yau [2016] NSWSC 1056

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Owners Strata Plan No 57164 v Yau [2016] NSWSC 1056 Hearing dates: 6, 7 June 2016 Date of orders: 02 August 2016 Decision date: 02 August 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Amended Statement of Claim is dismissed with costs. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY – Strata title – Management and control – Whether meeting of Executive Committee invalid because of failure to give notice in compliance with Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), Sch 3, cl 6 – Whether Executive Committee lacked authority to instruct counsel to enter into settlement agreement due to subject matter of agreement

CONTRACTS – Principal and agent – Authority of agents – Whether counsel for Owners Corporation lacked authority to make settlement agreement on behalf of Owners Corporation – Whether Owners Corporation ratified settlement agreement through conduct and acquiescence

PROCEDURE – Judgments and orders – Amending, varying and setting aside orders – Source of power to set aside consent orders

WORDS AND PHRASES – "must" – Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), Sch 3, cl 6 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 73 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 50 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), ss 21, 62, 65A, 80A, 80D, 153, 181(3), Sch 2, Sch 3. Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 36.15 Cases Cited: 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Limited v The Owners – Strata Plan No 73943 [2014] NSWCA 409; (2014) 88 NSWLR 488 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333 Dimarti v Dimarti [2015] NSWSC 97 Donellan v Watson (1990) 21 NSWLR 335 Gorczynski v Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited [2016] NSWCA 170 Harvey v Phillips (1956) 95 CLR 235 Learn & Play (Rhodes No 1) Pty Limited v Lombe [2011] NSWSC 1506 Leybourne v Permanent Custodians Pty Limited [2010] NSWCA 78 Owners Strata Plan 50276 v Thoo [2013] NSWCA 270 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Romeo v Papalia [2014] NSWCA 221 Taylor v Smith (1926) 38 CLR 48 The Owners – Strata Plan 5709 v Andrews [2009] NSWCA 189 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Owners Strata Plan No 57164 (Plaintiff) Annie May Fun Yau and Andy Sung Kit Yau (Defendants) Representation: Counsel: Mr J C Kelly SC and Mr V F Kerr (Plaintiff) Mr P H Greenwood SC and Mr I Griscti (Defendants)