Friedrich Joachim Fehling v Douglas John Appleby

Case

[2015] NZSC 178

23 November 2015


IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND
SC 110/2015
[2015] NZSC 178
BETWEEN

FRIEDRICH JOACHIM FEHLING
Applicant

AND

DOUGLAS JOHN APPLEBY
Respondent

Court:

William Young, Glazebrook and O'Regan JJ

Counsel:

Applicant in person
No appearance for Respondent

Judgment:

23 November 2015

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.

____________________________________________________________________

REASONS

  1. Mr Fehling seeks leave to appeal against:

    (a)a Human Rights Review Tribunal decision;[1] and/or

    (b)the decision of the High Court dismissing his appeal against that decision.[2]

    [1]Fehling v Appleby [2014] NZHRRT 24.

    [2]Fehling v Appleby [2014] NZHC 75 (Whata J).

  2. Mr Fehling’s application to the High Court for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed by Nation J.[3]  His application for special leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal was also dismissed.[4]

    [3]Fehling v Appleby [2015] NZHC 388.

    [4]Fehling v Appleby [2015] NZCA 428 (Harrison, French and Cooper JJ).

  3. No appeal to this Court lies from the Court of Appeal’s decision to decline leave.[5]

    [5]Section 124(6) of the Human Rights Act 1993 and s 7(b) of the Supreme Court Act 2003.

  4. While there may nevertheless be jurisdiction to grant leave for a direct appeal from the High Court decision, this would only be granted in extremely compelling circumstances.[6]

    [6]Burke v The Western Bay of Plenty District Council [2005] NZSC 46, (2005) 18 PRNZ 560 at `[5]. See also the requirements of s 14 of the Supreme Court Act 2003.

  5. Mr Fehling has not provided any “extremely compelling” reasons why he should be allowed a direct appeal from the High Court.  His submissions, instead, seek to re-argue the points of law and fact which have been dismissed by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

  6. The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.

  7. As Mr Appleby indicated he would abide the decision of the Court, there is no order for costs.


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Cases Citing This Decision

1

Fehling v The Queen [2016] NZHC 2026
Cases Cited

4

Statutory Material Cited

0

Ross v Police [2014] NZHC 75
Fehling v Appleby [2015] NZHC 388
Fehling v Appleby [2015] NZCA 428