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Hambleton v Labaj

Hambleton v Labaj

Case [2011] QCA 17 15 February 2011

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SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND

CITATION:

Hambleton & Anor v Labaj [2011] QCA 17

PARTIES:

JOHN LABAJ
(appellant/respondent)
v
DAVID JAMES HAMBLETON
(respondent/applicant)
ROBERT EUGENE MURPHY
(respondent/applicant)
CASTLEPLEX PTY LTD
ACN 086 604 793
(not party to appeal/applicant)

FILE NO/S:

Appeal No 5147 of 2010
SC No 11274 of 2009

DIVISION:

Court of Appeal

PROCEEDING:

General Civil Appeal

ORIGINATING COURT:

Supreme Court at Brisbane

DELIVERED ON:

15 February 2011

DELIVERED AT:

Brisbane

HEARING DATE:

11 October 2010

JUDGES:

Margaret McMurdo P, White JA and Cullinane J
Separate reasons for judgment of each member of the Court, each concurring as to the orders made

ORDER:

1. The order made below is amended pursuant to rule 388(2) to add:

“David James Hambleton and Robert Eugene Murphy as liquidators of Castleplex Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) ACN 086 604 793 have leave to make this application pursuant to s 5(1)(d) of the Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005.”

2. The appeal is dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS:

APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – APPEAL – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – QUEENSLAND – POWERS OF COURT – OTHER MATTERS – where the appellant had a history of vexatious proceedings – where the Supreme Court, Trial Divison, ordered that the appellant be restrained from instituting any proceedings in any Queensland court without leave of a judge of the Trial Division – where the respondents also sought orders staying particular proceedings instituted by the appellant

Constitution of Queensland 2001 (Qld), s 58
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 459H(1)
High Court Rules 2004 (Cth), O 62 r 6(1)
Industrial Relations Act 1999 (Qld)
Justices Act 1886 (Qld), s 222
Rules of the Supreme Court, O 60A
Supreme Court Act 1995 (Qld), s 253
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld), r 15, r 162, r 171, r 389A
Vexatious Actions Act 1896 (UK)
Vexatious Litigants Act 1981 (Qld)
Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005 (Qld), Pt 2 s 6, s 5, s 6, s 7, s 9; Pt 3, s 10, s 11, s 12, s 13
WorkCover Queensland Act 1996 (Qld)
Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld), s 576

AB v John Wyeth & Brother Ltd (1996) 8 MED LR 57, cited
Bhamjee v Forsdick(Practice) Note [2004] WLR 88; [2003] EWCA Civ 113, cited
Brisbane City Council v Mathews [2006] QSC 025, cited
Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors[2009] QCA 225, considered
Christmas Island Resort Pty Ltd v Geraldton Building Co Pty Ltd (No 5) (1997) 18 WAR 334, cited
Cocker v Tempest (1841) 7 M & W 502; (1841) 151 ER 864; 151 ER 864, [1841] EngR 242, cited
Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis (1974) 131 CLR 311; [1974] HCA 17, cited
Herron v McGregor (1986) 6 NSWLR 246, cited
HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L[2002] QCA 187, cited
Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23, cited
Labaj v Bevan [2004] QSC 253, considered

Grounds of appeal

[14] The appellant contends that the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent had discharged the onus of establishing the matters required under the relevant provision.

[15] It was submitted that his Honour failed to give adequate weight to the evidence of the second witness, and that the findings of fact were not reasonably open on the material before the Court.

[16] The respondent, for its part, submits that no error is disclosed, and that the conclusions reached were well within the range of outcomes available to the primary judge.

Consideration

[17] It is convenient to deal first with the question of construction, as the resolution of that issue informs the remaining grounds advanced by the appellant.

[18] For the reasons that follow, we are of the view that the appeal should be allowed in part and the matter remitted for further determination.

Continue reading Hambleton v Labaj

Details

AGLC: Hambleton v Labaj [2011] QCA 17
Case: [2011] QCA 17
Decision Date: 15/02/2011

CaseChat Overview and Summary

David James Hambleton, as liquidator of Castleplex Pty Ltd, brought a case against Labaj and others. The dispute arose from the liquidator's actions to recover losses for the company's creditors. The matter was heard in the Queensland Court of Appeal. The appeal was launched against the Supreme Court's decision to restrain the appellant from filing any further proceedings without leave from the Trial Division.

The court was required to decide whether the Supreme Court had the authority to issue the restraining order under the Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005. The appellant argued that the order was not properly justified and went beyond the court's statutory powers. The respondents contended that the restraining order was necessary due to the appellant's history of vexatious litigation.

The Court of Appeal held that the Supreme Court correctly exercised its powers under the Act. The appellant's history of vexatious litigation warranted the restraint order to prevent unnecessary costs and delays. The court further determined that the Vexatious Proceedings Act permits courts to impose such restrictions. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed, and the costs were awarded to the respondents.

The Court of Appeal amended the order to clarify that the liquidators of Castleplex Pty Ltd had the leave to make the application under the Vexatious Proceedings Act. The appeal was dismissed, and costs were awarded to the respondents.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. The order made below is amended pursuant to rule 388(2) to add:

“David James Hambleton and Robert Eugene Murphy as liquidators of Castleplex Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) ACN 086 604 793 have leave to make this application pursuant to s 5(1)(d) of the Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005.”

2. The appeal is dismissed with costs.

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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Citations

Hambleton v Labaj [2011] QCA 17

Most Recent Citation

Fung v Tam [2012] QCA 10

Cases Citing This Decision

Praljak v Bond University Limited [2024] QSC 45
Citation 1 (Para 15)

…justification for imposing restrictions under the Act on a vexatious litigant was referred to by White JA in Hambleton v Labaj [2011] QCA 17 at [71] ( Labaj ): “As Kirby J observed in Re Skyring it is a serious thing to keep a person out of the courts and the rule of law requires that, ordinarily, a person shou…
Farmers Fruit Box & Plastics Pty Ltd v Select Carbon Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 241
Citation 2 (Para 25)

…t limitless and must be deployed responsibly”, the plaintiffs ought to be restrained from abusing those resources.[18] [18] Hambleton v Labaj [2011] QCA 17, [71] (White JA). Vexatious proceedings application…
Georganas v Barkla [2021] SASC 47
Citation 3 (Para 14)

…al Australia Bank Ltd & Argus v Zollo [2008] SASC 93; Prescott v Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal [2009] SASC 309; Labaj v Hambleton [2011] QCA 17; Jorgenson v Jorgenson [2016] QSC 193; Palmer Leisure Coolum Pty Ltd v Magistrates Court of Queensland & Ors [2020] QCA 47; Ebert v Venvil [2000] Ch 484 and…
Crown Solicitor v Bird [2019] QSC 147
Citation 4 (Para 2)

…ous and onerous. The application for leave casts a significant burden upon such a person seeking to set aside that order.”[22] [21] [2011] QCA 17 at [21]. [22] [2011] QCA 17 at [21].…
Jorgensen v Jorgensen [2016] QSC 193
Citation 5 (Para 3)

…te JA (with whom McMurdo P and Cullinane J agreed) in Hambleton & Anor v Labaj .[60] It is unnecessary for me to repeat those observations here. [60] [2011] QCA 17 at [12] – [25].…
Schultz v Rowe [2015] QSC 143
Citation 6 (Para 2)

…inane J agreed) in Hambleton & Anor v Labaj [13], and I respectfully adopt all that was said there by Her Honour without repeating it at length. [13] [2011] QCA 17 at [12] – [25].…
Cooper v Mbuzi [2012] QSC 105
Citation 7 (Para 1)

…The justification for imposing restrictions under the Act on a vexatious litigant was referred to by White JA in Hambleton v Labaj [2011] QCA 17 at [71] ( Labaj ):…
Fung v Tam [2012] QCA 10
Citation 8 (Para 1)

…as an amendment of, the inherent jurisdiction of the Court to prevent abuse of its process, see generally the discussion in Hambleton & Anor v Labaj [2011] QCA 17 per White JA at [53]-[57]. See further von Risefer v Permanent Trustee Company Limited [2005] 1 Qd R 681 per Keane JA at [13]-[26] and the discussion…

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Cases Cited

Hambleton v Labaj [2010] QSC 124
Citation 1 (Para 1)

…stance is whether I should be satisfied that Mr Labaj has ‘frequently instituted or conducted vexatious proceedings in Australia’.”[57] [57][2010] QSC 124 at [1]; AR 258.…
Re: Castleplex Pty Ltd (in liq) [2010] QCA 59
Citation 2 (Para 1)

…he consultancy agreement. The liquidator allowed part of those claims up until the date of termination but not the claim for damages thereafter. [4][2010] QCA 59, Appeal No. 6483 of 2009.…
Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors [2009] QCA 225
Citation 3 (Para 1)

…Re Cameron [1996] 2 Qd R 218; Brisbane City Council v Mathews [2006] QSC 025. [75] Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors [2009] QCA 225.…
Labaj v Matthew [2005] QCA 410
Citation 4

…aj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148, cited Labaj v Lollo Plumbing P/L (in Liq) & Ors [2005] QCA 86, considered Labaj v Mathew [2005] QCA 410, considered Labaj v Trident Industrial Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 217, considered Labaj v WorkCover Queensland [2004] QSC 189, considered Re Attorney-General (Cth); Ex parte Skyri…
Labaj v Trident Industrial Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 217
Citation 5

…mbing P/L (in Liq) & Ors [2005] QCA 86, considered Labaj v Mathew [2005] QCA 410, considered Labaj v Trident Industrial Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 217, considered Labaj v WorkCover Queensland [2004] QSC 189, considered Re Attorney-General (Cth); Ex parte Skyring (1996) 135 ALR 29; (1996) 70 ALJR 321; [1996] HCA 4, cited…
Tricom Equities Ltd v Labaj [2005] FMCA 757
Citation 6

…in liq) [2010] QCA 59, cited Re Golden Casket Art Union Office [1995] 2 Qd R 346; [1994] QCA 480, cited Tricom Equities v Labaj [2005] FMCA 757, considered von Risefer v Permanent Trustee Company Limited [2005] 1 Qd R 681; [2005] QCA 109, cited Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509; [1992] HCA 34, cited COUNSEL: Th…
Von Risefer v Permanent Trustee Company Limited [2005] QCA 109
Citation 7

…0, cited Tricom Equities v Labaj [2005] FMCA 757, considered von Risefer v Permanent Trustee Company Limited [2005] 1 Qd R 681; [2005] QCA 109, cited Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509; [1992] HCA 34, cited COUNSEL: The appellant appeared on his own behalf V G Brennan for the respondent SOLICITORS: The appellan…
Labaj v Lollo Plumbing P/L (in Liq) [2005] QCA 86
Citation 8 (Para 1)

…ave due and independent consideration to previous proceedings to the extent that the material permitted him to do so. [69][2005] QCA 86.…
Labaj v Collins [2004] QCA 334
Citation 9

…stries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23, cited Labaj v Bevan [2004] QSC 253, considered Labaj v Collins [2005] 1 Qd R 130; [2004] QCA 334, considered Labaj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148, cited Labaj v Lollo Plumbing P/L (in Liq) & Ors [2005] QCA 86, considered Labaj v Mathew [2005] QCA 410, considered L…
Labaj v Lollo Plumbing Pty Ltd [2004] QCA 96
Citation 10

…[29][2004] QCA 96, per McMurdo P, Davies JA and Philippides J.…
HIH Casualty and General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187
Citation 11 (Para 1)

…se decisions was dismissed on the papers on 17 June 2010.[10] [7][2010] QCA 59. [8]At [31]. [9] HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187; Re Golden Casket Art Union Office [1995] 2 Qd R 346; [1994] QCA 480. [10] Labaj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148.…
Re Attorney-General (Cth); Ex parte Skyring [1996] HCA 4
Citation 12 (Para 1)

…ing aside the order, that a more limited order be made. [74] Re Attorney-General (Cth); Ex parte Skyring (1996) 135 ALR 29; (1996) 70 ALJR 321; [1996] HCA 4; Re Cameron [1996] 2 Qd R 218; Brisbane City Council v Mathews [2006] QSC 025. [75] Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors [2009] QCA…
Re Golden Casket Art Union Office [1994] QCA 480
Citation 13 (Para 1)

…0] QCA 59. [8]At [31]. [9] HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187; Re Golden Casket Art Union Office [1995] 2 Qd R 346; [1994] QCA 480. [10] Labaj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148.…
Geraldton Building Co Pty Ltd v Christmas Island Resort Pty Ltd [1994] HCATrans 79
Citation 14

…CITATION: Hambleton & Anor v Labaj [2011] QCA 17 PARTIES: JOHN LABAJ (appellant/respondent) v DAVID JAMES HAMBLETON (respondent/applicant) ROBERT EUGENE MURPHY (respondent/applicant) CASTLEPLEX PTY LTD ACN 086 604 793 (not party to appeal/applicant) FILE NO/S: Appeal No 5147 of 2010 SC No 11274 of 2…
Williams v Spautz [1992] HCA 34
Citation 15

…von Risefer v Permanent Trustee Company Limited [2005] 1 Qd R 681; [2005] QCA 109, cited Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509; [1992] HCA 34, cited COUNSEL: The appellant appeared on his own behalf V G Brennan for the respondent SOLICITORS: The appellant appeared on his own behalf Irish Bentley Lawyers for the…
Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd [1987] HCA 23
Citation 16

…d HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187, cited Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23, cited Labaj v Bevan [2004] QSC 253, considered Labaj v Collins [2005] 1 Qd R 130; [2004] QCA 334, considered Labaj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148, cited Labaj v Lollo…
Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis [1974] HCA 17
Citation 17

…1841) 7 M & W 502; (1841) 151 ER 864; 151 ER 864, [1841] EngR 242, cited Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis (1974) 131 CLR 311; [1974] HCA 17, cited Herron v McGregor (1986) 6 NSWLR 246, cited HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187, cited Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR…
Labaj vWorkCover Queensland [2004] QSC 189
Citation 18

…v Mathew [2005] QCA 410, considered Labaj v Trident Industrial Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 217, considered Labaj v WorkCover Queensland [2004] QSC 189, considered Re Attorney-General (Cth); Ex parte Skyring (1996) 135 ALR 29; (1996) 70 ALJR 321; [1996] HCA 4, cited Re Cameron [1996] 2 Qd R 218, cited Re Castleplex Pty Lt…
HCA 23, cited Labaj v Bevan [2004] QSC 253
Citation 19

…Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187, cited Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23, cited Labaj v Bevan [2004] QSC 253, considered Labaj v Collins [2005] 1 Qd R 130; [2004] QCA 334, considered Labaj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148, cited Labaj v Lollo Plumbing P/L (in Liq) & Ors [2005]…
Brisbane City Council v Russell Gordon Haig Mathews [2006] QSC 025
Citation 20 (Para 1)

…eral (Cth); Ex parte Skyring (1996) 135 ALR 29; (1996) 70 ALJR 321; [1996] HCA 4; Re Cameron [1996] 2 Qd R 218; Brisbane City Council v Mathews [2006] QSC 025. [75] Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors [2009] QCA 225.…
[2010] HCASL 148 [2010] HCASL 148
Citation 21 (Para 1)

…eral Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187; Re Golden Casket Art Union Office [1995] 2 Qd R 346; [1994] QCA 480. [10] Labaj v Hambleton & Ors [2010] HCASL 148.…
151 ER 864 151 ER 864
Citation 22

…land Resort Pty Ltd v Geraldton Building Co Pty Ltd (No 5) (1997) 18 WAR 334, cited Cocker v Tempest (1841) 7 M & W 502; (1841) 151 ER 864; 151 ER 864, [1841] EngR 242, cited Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis (1974) 131 CLR 311; [1974] HCA 17, cited Herron v McGregor (1986) 6 NSWLR 246, cited HIH Casualty &…
[1986] QB 424 [1986] QB 424
Citation 23

…51 ER 864, [1841] EngR 242, cited Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis (1974) 131 CLR 311; [1974] HCA 17, cited Herron v McGregor (1986) 6 NSWLR 246, cited HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L [2002] QCA 187, cited Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23, cited Labaj v Bevan [20…
Cocker v Tempest (1841) 151 ER 864
Citation 24

…tmas Island Resort Pty Ltd v Geraldton Building Co Pty Ltd (No 5) (1997) 18 WAR 334, cited Cocker v Tempest (1841) 7 M & W 502; (1841) 151 ER 864; 151 ER 864, [1841] EngR 242, cited Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis (1974) 131 CLR 311; [1974] HCA 17, cited Herron v McGregor (1986) 6 NSWLR 246, cited HIH Casualty &…
[2004] WLR 88 [2004] WLR 88
Citation 25

…Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld), s 576 AB v John Wyeth & Brother Ltd (1996) 8 MED LR 57, cited Bhamjee v Forsdick (Practice) Note [2004] WLR 88; [2003] EWCA Civ 113, cited Brisbane City Council v Mathews [2006] QSC 025, cited Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors [2009] QCA 225, considered Ch…

Legislation Cited

Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) 459H(1)
2 mentions (from Para 1)
Justices Act 1886 (Qld) 222
2 mentions (from Para 1)
Supreme Court Act 1995 (Qld) 253
2 mentions (from Para 1)
Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) 576
2 mentions (from Para 1)
High Court Rules 2004 (Cth)
1 mention
Industrial Relations Act 1999 (Qld)
1 mention
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld) 15
1 mention
Vexatious Actions Act 1896 (UK)
1 mention (from Para 1)
Vexatious Litigants Act 1981 (Qld)
1 mention (from Para 1)
Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005 (Qld)
1 mention (from Para 1)
WorkCover Queensland Act 1996 (Qld)
1 mention (from Para 1)

CITATION:	Hambleton & Anor v Labaj [2011] QCA 17
PARTIES:	JOHN LABAJ (appellant/respondent) v DAVID JAMES HAMBLETON (respondent/applicant) ROBERT EUGENE MURPHY (respondent/applicant) CASTLEPLEX PTY LTD ACN 086 604 793 (not party to appeal/applicant)
FILE NO/S:	Appeal No 5147 of 2010 SC No 11274 of 2009
DIVISION:	Court of Appeal
PROCEEDING:	General Civil Appeal
ORIGINATING COURT:	Supreme Court at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON:	15 February 2011
DELIVERED AT:	Brisbane
HEARING DATE:	11 October 2010
JUDGES:	Margaret McMurdo P, White JA and Cullinane J Separate reasons for judgment of each member of the Court, each concurring as to the orders made
ORDER:	1. The order made below is amended pursuant to rule 388(2) to add: “David James Hambleton and Robert Eugene Murphy as liquidators of Castleplex Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) ACN 086 604 793 have leave to make this application pursuant to s 5(1)(d) of the Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005.” 2. The appeal is dismissed with costs.
CATCHWORDS:	APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – APPEAL – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – QUEENSLAND – POWERS OF COURT – OTHER MATTERS – where the appellant had a history of vexatious proceedings – where the Supreme Court, Trial Divison, ordered that the appellant be restrained from instituting any proceedings in any Queensland court without leave of a judge of the Trial Division – where the respondents also sought orders staying particular proceedings instituted by the appellant Constitution of Queensland 2001 (Qld), s 58 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 459H(1) High Court Rules 2004 (Cth), O 62 r 6(1) Industrial Relations Act 1999 (Qld) Justices Act 1886 (Qld), s 222 Rules of the Supreme Court, O 60A Supreme Court Act 1995 (Qld), s 253 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld), r 15, r 162, r 171, r 389A Vexatious Actions Act 1896 (UK) Vexatious Litigants Act 1981 (Qld) Vexatious Proceedings Act 2005 (Qld), Pt 2 s 6, s 5, s 6, s 7, s 9; Pt 3, s 10, s 11, s 12, s 13 WorkCover Queensland Act 1996 (Qld) Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld), s 576 AB v John Wyeth & Brother Ltd (1996) 8 MED LR 57, cited Bhamjee v Forsdick(Practice) Note [2004] WLR 88; [2003] EWCA Civ 113, cited Brisbane City Council v Mathews [2006] QSC 025, cited Carwyn Constructions P/L v J & WL Consulting Services & Ors[2009] QCA 225, considered Christmas Island Resort Pty Ltd v Geraldton Building Co Pty Ltd (No 5) (1997) 18 WAR 334, cited Cocker v Tempest (1841) 7 M & W 502; (1841) 151 ER 864; 151 ER 864, [1841] EngR 242, cited Commonwealth Trading Bank v Inglis (1974) 131 CLR 311; [1974] HCA 17, cited Herron v McGregor (1986) 6 NSWLR 246, cited HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Dascam P/L[2002] QCA 187, cited Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23, cited Labaj v Bevan [2004] QSC 253, considered