Gorczynski v Leichhardt Municipal Council

Case [2002] NSWLEC 72



Land and Environment Court


of New South Wales


CITATION: Gorczynski v Leichhardt Municipal Council & Ors [2002] NSWLEC 72
PARTIES:

APPLICANT
Peter Francis Gorczynski

RESPONDENT
Leichhardt Municipal Council & Ors
FILE NUMBER(S): 40012 of 2000
CORAM: Cowdroy J
KEY ISSUES: Interlocutory Relief :- Directions
LEGISLATION CITED:
CASES CITED:
DATES OF HEARING: 04/03/2002
EX TEMPORE
JUDGMENT DATE :

03/04/2002
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES:


APPLICANT
Mr D. Miller (Barrister)

SOLICITORS
N/A

RESPONDANT
Ms H Irish (Barrister)

SOLICITORS
Pike Pike & Fenwick


JUDGMENT:

IN THE LAND AND
ENVIRONMENT COURT
OF NEW SOUTH WALES
MATTER No. 40012 of 2000
CORAM: Cowdroy J
DECISION DATE: 04/03/02

Peter Francis Gorczynski
v
Leichhardt Municipal Council & Ors

JUDGMENT

1. In these proceedings an application is made for leave to file a second further amended application class 4. The application is opposed by the respondent.


2. Ms Irish who appears for Leichhardt Municipal Council (“the council”) has pointed out several matters of alleged deficiency. They include, firstly, that the claim for the declarations in 13(a) and 13(b) will serve no purpose because the council’s consent in respect of which relief is claimed has been surrendered. The council submits that the continuation of the proceedings in relation to such consent is a waste of time and money.


3. In addition, Ms Irish submits that paragraph 1 of the proposed amended application seeks a declaration simpliciter, and is therefore insufficient to attract the jurisdiction of this Court. Further, Ms Irish submits that paragraph 3(a) of the proposed amendment does not nominate the relevant standards.


4. These matters comprise the principal submissions of the council, and they may prove to be well founded. At this preliminary stage however the Court is simply unable to know whether the submissions of the council are valid.


5. In the circumstances, the Court will allow the amendments, noting that the proposed short minutes of order will require the applicant to provide particulars in support of its claims. If those particulars do not demonstrate an arguable claim in relation to any of the matters foreshadowed by the council, it will be entitled to apply to have the proceedings struck out with costs. Those costs may include indemnity costs if the claims are found to be beyond jurisdiction or are otherwise vexatious.


6. The Court therefore grants leave for the second further amended application to be filed.


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Details
AGLC
Gorczynski v Leichhardt Municipal Council [2002] NSWLEC 72
Case
[2002] NSWLEC 72
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Gorczynski v Leichhardt Municipal Council & Ors was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The applicant, Peter Francis Gorczynski, sought leave to file a second further amended application class 4 against the respondent, Leichhardt Municipal Council, and others. The primary dispute centred on whether the applicant should be permitted to amend their application and, if so, under what conditions. The matter was presided over by Cowdroy J, who delivered an ex tempore judgment on 3 April 2002.

The legal issues before the court were primarily concerned with interlocutory relief and the directions that should be given regarding the proposed amendments to the application. Ms. H Irish, appearing for the council, raised several objections to the amendments. These objections included the assertion that certain claims for declarations were futile because the council had already surrendered the relevant consent. Ms. Irish further argued that some parts of the proposed amendment did not adequately nominate the relevant standards and that one declaration sought was insufficient to attract the jurisdiction of the court.

In determining the application, Cowdroy J noted that while the council's objections might be valid, the court was unable to ascertain their validity at this preliminary stage. Therefore, the court granted leave for the second further amended application to be filed, subject to the condition that the applicant provide particulars in support of the claims. The court emphasized that if these particulars did not demonstrate an arguable claim, the council would be entitled to apply to have the proceedings struck out with costs, potentially including indemnity costs if the claims were found to be beyond jurisdiction or vexatious.

Ultimately, the court's decision allowed the applicant the opportunity to further amend their application, while imposing the requirement that they substantiate their claims with particulars. The court's ruling balanced the need for procedural fairness with the importance of preventing wasteful litigation.

Orders

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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