Voicu v The Owners-Strata Plan No 1624 [2020] NSWSC 296

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Voicu v The Owners-Strata Plan No 1624 [2020] NSWSC 296 Hearing dates: 17 February 2020 Date of orders: 27 March 2020 Decision date: 27 March 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Basten J Decision: (1) Grant Mr Voicu an extension of time under UCPR r 49.20(4) to 24 September 2019 to file the summons seeking to review the decision of the Manager, Costs Assessment's refusal to extend time to allow an application to a review panel.

(2) Dismiss the summons.

(3) Order that the plaintiff, Ilie Gheorghe Voicu, pay the costs of The Owners-Strata Plan No 1624 in this Court. Catchwords: COSTS – costs' assessment – late application to review certificate – application to Manager, Costs Assessment to extend time – whether assessment under Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2015 (NSW) or Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) – error by Manager as to applicable law – whether error material – whether applicant demonstrated available grounds for review

CIVIL PROCEDURE – application to review decision of Manager, Costs Assessment – whether proceedings for judicial review or review under Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 49.19, 49.20 – nature of review

WORDS AND PHRASES – "proceeding" – whether appeal is a different proceeding from trial – transitional provision – Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Regulation 2015 (NSW), cl 59

WORDS AND PHRASES – "review" – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), cl 49.19 – distinguished from judicial review under Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW), 363, 373, 379, 384, 385 Legal Profession Regulation 2005 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW), ss 63, 74, 75, 76, 83, 89, 93B; Pt 7 Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Regulation 2015 (NSW), cll 53, 59 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 6.2, 42.2, 49.19, 49.20 Cases Cited: Ferella v Stomo [2017] NSWCA 268 In Re the Will of FB Gilbert (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Tomko v Palasty (No 2) (2007) 71 NSWLR 61; [2007] NSWCA 369 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ilie Gheorghe Voicu (Plaintiff) The Owners-Strata Plan No 1624 (First Defendant) The Manager, Costs Assessment (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Applicant self-represented Ms A Power (First Defendant) Submitting appearance (Second Defendant)