Seidler v University of New South Wales (No 3)

The case of Seidler v University of New South Wales (No 3) arose from a series of legal actions initiated by Kathryn Seidler against the University of New South Wales. The university sought an order under rule 6.02 of the Federal Court Rules, prohibiting Seidler from continuing or initiating any further proceedings without the court's leave, due to the vexatious nature of her actions. The matter was heard by the Federal Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether Seidler's continued litigation was vexatious, thereby warranting an order under rule 6.02 of the Federal Court Rules. The court was required to consider the nature of the proceedings, the behaviour of the litigant, and the impact of the litigation on the court's resources and on the respondents. The university argued that Seidler's actions were frivolous and had caused significant distress and expense.

The court found that Seidler's litigation was indeed vexatious, given the repetitive and baseless nature of her claims, the lack of any substantive merit, and the substantial impact on the university and the court system. The judge noted the repeated dismissals of Seidler's claims and the absence of any new evidence or arguments in her subsequent filings. The court emphasised the importance of preserving court resources for genuine and meritorious cases, and the need to protect respondents from harassment and unnecessary litigation. As a result, the court made orders prohibiting Seidler from continuing or initiating any further proceedings in the Federal Court without leave.