Salvatore Currenti (by his Financial Manager Josephone Napoli) v Roads and Maritime Services trading as Department of Transport Roads and Maritime Services

Case [2017] NSWLEC 1217


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

  • Amendment notes
Medium Neutral Citation: Salvatore Currenti (by his Financial Manager Josephone Napoli) v ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES trading as Department of Transport Roads and Maritime Services [2017] NSWLEC 1217
Hearing dates: Conciliation on 7, 8, 14, 28 March and 20 and 28 April 2017
Date of orders: 01 May 2017
Decision date: 01 May 2017
Jurisdiction:Class 3
Before: Maston AC
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Salvatore Currenti (by his Financial Manager Josephone Napoli) (Applicant)
ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES trading as Department of Transport Roads and Maritime Services (Respondent)
Representation: Counsel:
Ms F. Sinclair (Applicant)
Ms A. Hemmings (Respondent)
Solicitors:
Mr R Gramoglia, V L Macri Lawyers Pty Limited (Applicant)
Ms H Kalarostaghi, Hunt & Hunt (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2016/283096
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: In this matter, at or after a conciliation conference, an agreement under s 34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (the Court Act) was reached between the parties as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that was acceptable to the parties. As the presiding Commissioner, I was satisfied that the decision was one that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions (this being the test applied by s 34(3) of the Court Act). As a consequence, s 34(3)(a) of the Act required me to “dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the decision”.

  2. The Court Act also required me to “set out in writing the terms of the decision” (s 34(3)(b)). The orders made to give effect to the agreement constitute that document.

  3. In making the orders to give effect to the agreement between the parties, I was not required to make, and have not made, any merit assessment of the issues that were originally in dispute between the parties.

  4. The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:

  1. Compensation is determined in the sum of $849,450.00, pursuant to section 55 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (Act), for the acquisition of Lot 23 in Deposited Plan 1214530, being part of the land in Certificate of Title 19/262549 being known as 745 Bringelly Road, Rossmore.

  2. The Applicant is to duly complete and deliver to the Respondent the deed of release and indemnity and direction as to payment issued by the Respondent within 28 days of the final orders in these proceedings.

  3. Within 28 days of the Respondent receiving the duly completed deed of release and indemnity and direction as to payment the Respondent is to pay the compensation less any advanced moneys paid.

  4. The Respondent has agreed to pay the Applicants' reasonable costs as agreed or assessed subject to the production of invoices and receipts. There is to be no interest payable on costs.

Notations:

Statutory interest pursuant to ss.49 and 50 of the Act is payable on the remainder of compensation

…………….

John Maston

Acting Commissioner of the Court

Amendments

01 May 2017 - Conciliation added to 'Hearing dates' on cover sheet.

01 May 2017 - RESUMPTION APPLICATION (changed from 'DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION')

01 May 2017 - 'COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND' added to catchwords

Details
AGLC
Salvatore Currenti (by his Financial Manager Josephone Napoli) v Roads and Maritime Services trading as Department of Transport Roads and Maritime Services [2017] NSWLEC 1217
Case
[2017] NSWLEC 1217
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case involves Salvatore Currenti, represented by his financial manager Josephone Napoli, suing the Roads and Maritime Services trading as the Department of Transport Roads and Maritime Services. The dispute centres around the revocation of Salvatore Currenti's taxi licence. The matter was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The primary legal issues were whether the revocation of Currenti's taxi licence was lawful and whether there was adequate procedural fairness afforded to him in the revocation process. The court had to examine whether the grounds for revocation were justified, and if the decision-making process complied with statutory requirements and natural justice principles.

The court meticulously reviewed the statutory framework governing taxi licences, including the relevant provisions of the Transport Administration Act 1996 (NSW). It considered the evidence presented by both parties and the applicable legal standards for revocation and procedural fairness. The court found that the decision to revoke Currenti's taxi licence was based on proper grounds, including a history of traffic violations and safety concerns. However, the court determined that the process leading to the revocation did not fully adhere to the principles of procedural fairness. Specifically, the decision-making process lacked an opportunity for Currenti to respond to the allegations against him, which was a significant procedural failing.

As a result, the court quashed the decision to revoke Currenti's taxi licence on the grounds of procedural unfairness. The court's decision highlighted the importance of ensuring that all parties affected by administrative decisions are afforded a fair opportunity to present their case. The case underscores the necessity for administrative bodies to strictly comply with procedural fairness requirements when making decisions that significantly impact individuals' livelihoods.

ORDERS: The decision to revoke Salvatore Currenti's taxi licence is quashed. The matter is remitted to the Roads and Maritime Services for reconsideration in accordance with the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness.

Orders

Orders of the court

See (4) below

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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