De Varda v Austin (No 3) [2019] NSWCA 226

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: De Varda v Austin (No 3) [2019] NSWCA 226 Hearing dates: 30 August 2019 Date of orders: 30 August 2019 Decision date: 17 September 2019 Before: Bell P, McCallum JA and Emmett AJA Decision: 1. Appeal allowed.

2. Orders 2 and 3 of Pembroke J's decision made on 8 June 2018 to be set aside. Catchwords: PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS – Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 (NSW) – where persons the subject of orders made under the Act not heard and not given an opportunity to be heard before orders made – non-compliance with s 8(3) of Vexatious Proceedings Act conceded – whether Court of Appeal should itself entertain application for orders under Vexatious Proceedings Act – not appropriate to do so in the circumstances Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 56 Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) s 6 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A(10) Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 (NSW) ss 8, 9, 13(3) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 13.4(1), 14.28(1), 42.7(2), 51.52 Cases Cited: De Varda v Austin [2018] NSWCA 263 Mahmoud v Attorney General of New South Wales [2017] NSWCA 12 Nobarani v Mariconte [2018] HCA 36; 359 ALR 31 Potier v Attorney General in and for the State of New South Wales (2015) 89 NSWLR 284; [2015] NSWCA 129 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141; [1986] HCA 54 Viavattene v Attorney General (NSW) [2015] NSWCA 44 Zepinic v Chateau Constructions (Aust) Limited [2017] NSWSC 582 Zepinic v Chateau Constructions (Aust) Limited [2018] NSWCA 317 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Joseph de Varda (First Appellant) Samuel Tov-Lev (Second Appellant) David Austin (First Respondent) Eddy Neumann (Second Respondent) Murray Selig (Third Respondent) John Joseph Lowbeer (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Self-represented (Appellants) S Callan (First Respondent) J C McDonald with M Cobb-Clark (Second, Third and Fourth Respondents) A G Martin, amicus curiae