Sher Global Enterprises Pty Ltd v Owners - Strata Plan 31758 [2018] NSWSC 1057

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sher Global Enterprises Pty Ltd v Owners - Strata Plan 31758 [2018] NSWSC 1057 Hearing dates: 21 March 2018 Date of orders: 13 July 2018 Decision date: 13 July 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court orders that:

(1) The appeal is dismissed.

(2) The decision of his Honour Magistrate Guy dated 31 August 2017 is affirmed.

(3) The summons dated 28 September 2017 is dismissed.

(4) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs on an ordinary basis. Catchwords: APPEAL – Local Court – leave to appeal – Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), Schedule 2, ss 32, 33, 34, 34A and 35 – meaning of "must" – Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; 153 ALR 490; [1998] HCA 28 – whether legislative intention can be discerned that Annual General Meetings are invalid for breach of Strata Schemes Management Act provisions – language, subject matter and objects of the Act – consequences of holding every act in breach void –disclosure of costs agreement – whether disclosure occurred – authority of agent – whether agent had authority to carry out owners corporation's functions – reasonableness of bringing proceedings – unreasonable costs Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW), ss 174, 176 and 178 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW), 39, 40, 41 Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 (NSW), ss 109 and 110 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), ss 3, 24, 27, 28, 29, 76, 98, 118, 230A and 236; Schedule 2, ss 6, 32, 33, 34, and 35. Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), ss 3, 22, 81, 118, 263; Schedule ss 1, 7, 8, and 9 Cases Cited: 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd v The Owners - Strata Plan No 73943 [2014] NSWCA 409 B & L Linings Pty Limited v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2008) 74 NSWLR 481; [2008] NSWCA 187 Be Financial Pty Ltd as Trustee for Be Financial Operations Trust v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 Dargavel v Cameron [2002] FCA 1234 He v Yeung [2015] NSWCA 392 Lee v New South Wales Crime Commission (2012) 224 A Crim R 94; [2012] NSWCA 262 Owners Strata Plan 46528 v Hall (2009) NSWSC 278 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; 153 ALR 490; [1998] HCA 28 Strata Plan No 62022 v Sahade [2013] NSWSC 2002 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council (2005) 220 CLR 517; [2005] HCA 4 Texts Cited: Dennis Pearce and Robert Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (8th ed., 2014, Lexis Nexis) Hansard, Legislative Assembly, 13 November 1996, [8.20] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sher Global Enterprises Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Owners - Strata Plan 31758 (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Z Sher (Authorised Person) (Plaintiff) N Simpson (Defendant)