James v The Owners – Strata Plan No 11478 [2017] NSWCA 166

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: James v The Owners – Strata Plan No 11478 [2017] NSWCA 166 Hearing dates: 4 July 2017 Date of orders: 04 July 2017 Decision date: 10 July 2017 Before: McColl JA at [1], Basten JA at [49] Decision: Application for leave to appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: APPEAL – leave to appeal – litigant in person – allegations of negligence, oppression and fraud on minority concerning conduct and management of strata scheme by Owners Corporation rejected on bases including failure to prove loss/detriment– where applicant sought to refer to expert evidence not used at trial – no evidence why not available at trial – whether leave to appeal should be granted

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – procedural fairness – where primary judge refused numerous adjournment applications by litigant in person claiming to be not fit to conduct case – where primary judge afforded litigant in person latitude in conduct of case – whether denial of procedural fairness warranting grant of leave to appeal Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56-58 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 79 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 75A, 101 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.18 Cases Cited: Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Bloch v Bloch (1981) 180 CLR 390; [1981] HCA 56 Brookfield Multiplex Ltd v Owners Corp Strata Plan (2014) 254 CLR 185; [2014] HCA 36 Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 Concrete Pty Ltd v Parramatta Design & Developments Pty Ltd (2006) 229 CLR 577; [2006] HCA 55 Drew v State of New South Wales [2015] NSWCA 159 Durham v Durham [2011] NSWCA 62 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Jabulani Pty Ltd v Walkabout II Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 267 James v The Owners Strata Plan No SP 11478 (No 4) [2012] NSWSC 590 Jaycar Pty Ltd v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 Squire v Rogers (1979) 39 FLR 106 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562; [2001] HCA 59 Will of Gilbert (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jennifer Elizabeth James (Applicant) The Owners Strata Plan No. 11478 (First Respondent) Robert John Anderson (Second Respondent) Advanced Community Management Pty Ltd (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Self represented (Applicant) Mr C P O'Neill (First Respondent) Mr S A Adair (Second and Third Respondents)