Dupois v Griffiths and Taylor
[2022] QCATA 4
•6 January 2022
QUEENSLAND CIVIL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
CITATION:
Dupois v Griffiths and Taylor [2022] QCATA 4
PARTIES: CHARLES DUPOIS (applicant/appellant)
v
CHARLES KING GRIFFITHS
SIMON TAYLOR(respondents)
APPLICATION NO/S:
APL331-21
ORIGINATING APPLICATION NO/S:
T1479-21
MATTER TYPE:
Appeals
DELIVERED ON:
6 January 2022
HEARING DATE:
On the papers
HEARD AT:
Brisbane
DECISION OF:
Member Fitzpatrick
ORDERS:
The application for a stay of the interlocutory decision made on 25 November 2021 is refused.
APPEARANCES & REPRESENTATION:
This matter was heard and determined on the papers pursuant to s 32 of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 (Qld)
Applicant:
Self-represented
Respondent:
No appearance or representation in the Appeal Tribunal
REASONS FOR DECISION
The applicant has sought reasons for a decision of the Appeal Tribunal made on 2 December 2021 refusing a stay of an interlocutory decision made on 25 November 2021 in the minor civil disputes’ jurisdiction of the Tribunal.
Under s 142(3)(a)(ii) of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 (Qld), leave of the Tribunal is required to appeal a decision of the Tribunal which is not final.
The application for leave to appeal or appeal filed by the applicant relates to a decision of the Tribunal which is not final.
The interlocutory decision was to refuse an application for an adjournment of the hearing on 6 December 2021, to refuse an application for an interim injunction and a non-publication order, and to refuse an application for dismissal of the proceeding for lack of jurisdiction or a stay. The decision also joined Charles King Griffiths as an applicant, giving leave for legal representation, and made orders in relation to filing of evidence. These are all matters of practice or procedure rather than determination of substantive rights.
At the time the application for leave to appeal or appeal was filed, the hearing of the substantive matters in dispute between the parties had not been heard.
Appeal tribunals are reluctant to interfere with the exercise of discretion on a point of practice or procedure because of the delay and cost which will result, hampering the administration of justice.[1] Delay in determination of substantive rights and waste of scarce public resources would have been the result of a grant of a stay of the decision the subject of the application for leave to appeal or appeal. A hearing date for determination of the substantive questions had been set within a relatively short time frame.
[1]Adam P. Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170, [9].
The applicant had a full opportunity to put his case at that hearing and if necessary, to pursue appeal rights after a final determination had been made.
Even apart from these issues, exceptional circumstances must be demonstrated before a stay will be granted when leave to appeal is required.[2] No exceptional circumstances are demonstrated by the applicant.
[2]Simonova v Department of Housing and Public Works [2018] QCA 60.
The Appeal Tribunal notes that on 14 December 2021 the applicant advised the Registry that he no longer intended to proceed with the application for leave to appeal or appeal.
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