Hodson v McFarland

Case [2014] QCATA 261


CITATION: Hodson v McFarland & Anor [2014] QCATA 261
PARTIES: Adrian Hodson
(Appellant)
v
Malcolm McFarland and Jane McFarland
(Respondents)
APPLICATION NUMBER: APL092-14
MATTER TYPE: Appeals
HEARING DATE: On the papers
HEARD AT: Brisbane
DECISION OF: Dr J R Forbes, Member
DELIVERED ON: 8 September 2014
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
ORDERS MADE:

1.    The application for leave to appeal filed on 24 February 2014 is dismissed.

2.    The application for miscellaneous matters filed on 5 September 2014 is dismissed.

CATCHWORDS:

APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL – MINOR CIVIL DISPUTE – where transaction found void for uncertainty – whether appellable error demonstrated – whether allegation of bias well founded – whether disjoinder of co-respondent to initial process erroneous – where late and irregular attempt by respondents to cross-appeal by application for miscellaneous matters – whether such attempt a permissible adjunct to application for leave to appeal – whether application for leave should be granted

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 (Qld), s 28, s 32, s 62, s 142
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2009 (Qld), r 75

Associated Japanese Bank (International) Ltd v Credit du Nord SA [1989] 1 WLR 255
Attorney-General for the State of Victoria v Shaw (No 5) [2013] VSC 106
Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1989) 15 NSWLR 130
Custom Credit Corporation Ltd v Gray [1992] 1 VR 540
Drew v Bundaberg Regional Council [2012] QPELR 350; [2011] QCA 359

Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118

Johnson v Queensland Police Service [2014] QCA 195
Lend Lease Financial Planning Limited v Southcap Pty Ltd [1998] QCA 11
Lewis v Orchid Avenue Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 739
Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571
Mercantile Credits Ltd v Harry [1969] 2 NSWR 248

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS & Another (2010) 240 CLR 611

Nu Line Construction Group Pty Ltd v Fowler (aka Grippaudo) [2012] NSWSC 587
Nudgee Bakery Pty Ltd’s Agreement, Re [1971] Qd R 24
Pavey & Matthews Pty Limited v Paul (1987) 162 CLR 221
Renton v Magistrate Baldwin [2009] QSC 103

Robinson v Corr [2011] QCATA 302

Roxborough & Ors v Rothmans of Pall Mall Australia Pty Limited (2001) 208 CLR 516
S & M Motor Repairs Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 12 NSWLR 358
Sammimi v Mahboudi [2014] QCATA 204
Secretary of State for Education and Science v Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council [1977] AC 1014
Slinko v Guardianship and Administration    Tribunal [2006] 2 Qd R 279
Upper Hunter District Council v Australian Chilling & Freezing Co Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 437

W (an infant), In Re [1971] AC 682

Wentworth v Graham (2003) 57 NSWLR 741

York Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Australasia) Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (1949) 80 CLR 11

APPEARANCES and REPRESENTATION (if any):

This matter was heard and determined on the papers pursuant to s 32 of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 (QCAT Act).

REASONS FOR DECISION

  1. This application for leave[1] to appeal was originally listed for an…

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AGLC
Hodson v McFarland [2014] QCATA 261
Case
[2014] QCATA 261
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Hodson v McFarland was heard by the Supreme Court of Queensland, where the applicant, Hodson, sought leave to appeal a decision that had found a transaction void for uncertainty. The respondents, McFarland, opposed the application for leave to appeal and subsequently filed an application for miscellaneous matters, which included a late and irregular attempt to cross-appeal. The court had to determine whether the application for leave to appeal demonstrated an error that warranted an appeal, whether the allegation of bias was well founded, and if the disjoinder of a co-respondent from the initial process was erroneous. Additionally, the court had to decide if the respondents' attempt to cross-appeal by filing an application for miscellaneous matters was a permissible adjunct to the application for leave to appeal, and if the application for leave should be granted.

The court considered whether the transaction in question was void for uncertainty and whether the decision to find it void was an error of law that warranted an appeal. The court also assessed whether the allegation of bias against the trial judge was well founded. Furthermore, the court examined if the disjoinder of a co-respondent from the initial process was an error and if the respondents' attempt to cross-appeal was a permissible adjunct to the application for leave to appeal. The court found that there was no demonstrated error that warranted an appeal, the allegation of bias was not well founded, and the disjoinder of the co-respondent was not erroneous. Additionally, the court held that the respondents' attempt to cross-appeal was not a permissible adjunct to the application for leave to appeal.

The Supreme Court of Queensland dismissed the application for leave to appeal and the application for miscellaneous matters. The court held that the applicant had not demonstrated an error that warranted an appeal, and the allegation of bias was not well founded. Additionally, the court found that the disjoinder of the co-respondent was not erroneous, and the respondents' attempt to cross-appeal was not a permissible adjunct to the application for leave to appeal. As a result, the application for leave to appeal was dismissed, and the application for miscellaneous matters was also dismissed.

The court made it clear that the application for leave to appeal filed on 24 February 2014 was dismissed, and the application for miscellaneous matters filed on 5 September 2014 was also dismissed. This decision underscored the importance of demonstrating a clear error of law in applications for leave to appeal and the stringent requirements for making allegations of bias against a judge. Furthermore, the court's dismissal of the respondents' attempt to cross-appeal highlighted the need for adherence to procedural rules in legal proceedings.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. The application for leave to appeal filed on 24 February 2014 is dismissed.

2. The application for miscellaneous matters filed on 5 September 2014 is dismissed.

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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