Mendonca v Legal Services Commissioner [2019] NSWSC 409

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mendonca v Legal Services Commissioner [2019] NSWSC 409 Hearing dates: 5 April 2019 Date of orders: 16 April 2019 Decision date: 16 April 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Wilson J Decision: 1. The summons filed on 12 July 2018 is dismissed. 2. The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs on an ordinary basis, as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST – complaint against solicitor – complaint out of time – refusal of Legal Services Commissioner to conduct an internal review – absolute discretion – whether orders in the nature of certiorari and mandamus lie – summons dismissed – no point of principle Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Control (2018) 780 Hot Holdings v Creasy (1996) 185 CLR 149 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 499 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission (2010) 239 CLR 531 Mendonca v Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Pty Ltd [2014] FCC 1042 Mendonca v Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Pty Ltd as Trustee for Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Trust, unreported decision of the District Court of NSW, 12 June 2014 Mendonca v Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Pty Ltd as Trustee for Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Trust, unreported decision of the District Court of NSW, 27 June 2014 Mendonca v Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Pty Ltd as Trustee for Chan & Naylor (Parramatta) Trust, unreported decision of the District Court of NSW, 6 November 2015 Mendonca v Dooley & Associates Solicitors Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 144 Murlan Consulting Pty Ltd v Ku-Ringai Municipal Council [2009] NSWCA 300 The Queen v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman [1980] HCA 13; 144 CLR 13 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gerard Mendonca (Plaintiff) Legal Services Commissioner (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Gerard Mendonca as unrepresented litigant appearing in person (Plaintiff) Ms R Withana (Defendant)