Choy v Tiaro Coal Ltd (in liq) [2018] NSWCA 205

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Choy v Tiaro Coal Ltd (in liq) [2018] NSWCA 205 Hearing dates: 28 August 2018 Date of orders: 28 August 2018 Decision date: 20 September 2018 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; Payne JA at [83] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal refused.

2. Applicants to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – service of originating process – service effected almost 6 months after filing – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules r 6.2 provided for service within 6 months – Supreme Court (Corporations) Rules r 2.7 provided for service as soon as practicable after filing and, in any case, at least 5 days before date fixed for hearing – construction of r 2.7 – whether r 2.7 inconsistent with r 6.2 – whether r 2.7 breached – consequences of breach of r 2.7 – power to set aside service of originating process where irregularity

PRACTICE – service – application to set aside service of originating process – contravention of obligation to serve as soon as practicable after filing and in any case at least 5 days before date fixed for hearing – liquidators delayed service until litigation funding agreement in place – relevance of compliance with rule requiring service within 6 months – relevance of explanation for delay – relevance of actual and presumptive prejudice – leave to appeal not warranted

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – interaction between Supreme Court (Corporations) Rules and Uniform Civil Procedure Rules – significance of rules governing application and inconsistency – consideration of Supreme Court (Corporations) Rules rr 1.3, 2.7 – consideration of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules rr 1.7 and 6.2 – consideration of Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 11 and 63 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 3, 9, 11, 14, 56, 63, Schedule 7 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 180, 181, 436A Subordinate Legislation Act 1989 (NSW), ss 3, 10(2), Schedule 4 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 101(2)(e), 124, Schedule 4 Supreme Court (Corporations) Rules 1999 (NSW), rr 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 2.7 Supreme Court (Judicature) Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vic c 77) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), pt 7 r 7 Supreme Court Rules (Amendment No 323) 1998 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 1.7, 6.2, Schedule 2 Cases Cited: Arthur Andersen Corporate Finance Pty Ltd v Buzzle Operations Pty Ltd (in liq) [2009] NSWCA 104 Breen v Clough [2018] NSWCA 172 Clune v Watson (1882) Tarl 75 Coles v Ravenshear [1907] 1 KB 1 Ferrand v The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Bradford (1856) 8 De G M & G 93; 44 ER 324 Harkness v Bell's Asbestos & Engineering Ltd [1967] 2 QB 729 Hodder Rook & Associates Pty Ltd v Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 279 Horne v Retirement Guide Management Pty Ltd [2017] VSCA 47; 118 ACSR 509 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 In re Pritchard decd [1963] Ch 502 In re the Will of F B Gilbert (decd) (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 In the matter of Tiaro Coal Ltd (In liq) [2018] NSWSC 828 Laurie v Carroll (1958) 98 CLR 310; [1958] HCA 4 Macedonian Orthodox Community Church St Petka Incorporated v His Eminence Petar The Diocesan Bishop of The Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (2008) 237 CLR 66; [2008] HCA 42 Plowman v Palmer (1914) 18 CLR 339; [1914] HCA 41 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Smith (2017) 95 NSWLR 597; [2017] NSWCA 206 Tolcher v Gordon [2005] NSWCA 135; 53 ACSR 442 Treadtel International Pty Ltd v Cocco [2016] NSWCA 360; 117 ACSR 176 Weston v Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd [2012] NSWCA 79; 88 ACSR 80 Texts Cited: E Campbell, Rules of Court: A Study of Rule-Making Powers and Procedures (1985, Law Book Company Ltd) K Lindgren, "Harmonisation of Rules of Court in Australia" [2004] FedJSchol 12 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Francis Choy (First Applicant) Rado Jacob Rebek (Second Applicant) Ibrahim Menudin (Third Applicant) Wei Huang (Fourth Applicant) Hudson Resources Ltd (Fifth Applicant) Hudson Corporate Ltd (Sixth Applicant) Tiaro Coal Ltd (in liquidation) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Condon SC, N Bender (Applicants) R Dick SC, D Sulan (Respondent)