Stojanovski v Willis and Bowring

The case of Stojanovski v Willis and Bowring involved a dispute regarding an application for an extension of time to appeal a decision made by a costs assessor. The parties before the court were Stojanovski, the applicant, and Willis and Bowring, the respondents. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The primary issue before the court was whether the applicant had demonstrated sufficient grounds to warrant an extension of time to appeal the costs assessor’s decision.

The court was required to determine if there were any special circumstances that justified the applicant’s failure to appeal within the prescribed time frame. The court examined the applicant's arguments regarding the late filing of the appeal and assessed whether there were any extenuating circumstances that warranted granting the extension. The court considered the principles of fairness and the importance of adhering to statutory time limits while also balancing the need to ensure justice is served.

The court held that the applicant had not provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay in filing the appeal. The reasons given were not deemed to be special circumstances within the meaning of the applicable legislation. The court emphasised the importance of timely compliance with procedural requirements and noted that the applicant's failure to meet the deadlines without a justifiable reason was significant. Consequently, the application for an extension of time was dismissed, and leave to appeal the costs assessor’s decision was denied.