First Plaintiff v Defendant [2025] VSC 471 | Case summary

Supreme Court of Victoria|2025-08-05|Before: Gobbo AsJ

The application will be dismissed.
I will direct that the parties provide to my chambers a proposed form of order to give effect to this judgment.
It is the usual case that costs of the application follow the event. That is to say, that the losing party, here Kotabi, should be ordered to pay the defendant's costs. It is my preliminary view that a costs order should be made that the plaintiff pay the defendant's costs of the proceeding, including any reserved costs. I will direct that the parties file submissions of not more than two pages in relation to any costs orders which are sought or resisted, including whether any costs order is sought other than on a standard basis. I will then determine the issue of costs on the papers in chambers.

[1] Affidavit of Raymond Hoser filed 2 October 2024, 26-33.

[5] Werden v Legal Services Board [2012] VSCA 278; (2012) 36 VR 637, [53] (citations omitted).

[6] Rajski v Scitec Corp Pty Ltd [1986] NSWCA 1 cited in Minogue v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission [1999] FCA 85; (1999) 166 ALR 129, [27]-[29] ('Minogue').

[7] Tomasevic v Travaglini [2007] VSC 337; (2007) 17 VR 100 citing Abram v Bank of New Zealand (1996) ATPR 41-507; Minogue (n 6) and Platcher v Joseph [2004] FCAFC 68, 104.

[8] [2007] VSC 337; (2007) 17 VR 100, 130 (citations omitted).

[9] [2015] VSCA 298, [39]-[41] (Kyrou and Kaye JJA and Ginnane AJA) (citations omitted).

[12] The High Court decision in Hoser v Pelley & Anor [2024] HCASL 74 records that the only applicant was Mr Hoser.

[13] Cavill Business Solutions Pty Ltd v Jackson [2005] WASC 138, [25] (Hasluck J); Crocker v Toys 'R' Us (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2015] FCA 728, [9] (Reeves J) ('Crocker'); Sarto v Sarto [2021] VSC 295, [42] (Derham AsJ).

[14] Crocker (n 13), [9] (Reeves J); Winters v Fogarty [2017] FCA 51, [80] (Bromberg J).

[18] Ibid, 417 [6] (Gyles, Stone and Buchanan JJ); Bahonko v Nurses Board of Victoria [2008] FCAFC 29, [10] (Gyles, Stone and Buchanan JJ).

[19] Transcript of Proceedings (24 February 2025) 41.4-42.27.

[23] R v Hoser [2001] VSC 443; Hoser v The Queen [2003] VSCA 194; Pelley v Kotabi Pty Ltd [2021] VCC 1425; Hoser v Herald and Weekly Times Pty Limited & Anor (Ruling) [2022] VCC 2213; Hoser v Herald and Weekly Times Pty Limited & Anor (Ruling No 2) [2023] VCC 209; Hoser v ABC & Ors (Ruling) [2022] VCC 1664; Hoser v Pelley (No 2) [2023] VSCA 14; Hoser v Pelley (No 3) [2023] VSCA 257; Hoser v Pelley (No 4) [2023] VSCA 319; Hoser v Secretary of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action [2024] VSC 227; Hoser v Prospero Productions Pty Ltd & Ors [2024] FCA 1376 and Hoser v Pelley & Anor [2024] HCASL 74.

[25] Transcript of Proceedings (24 February 2025) 14.9-14.29.

[26] R v Hoser [2001] VSC 443.

[27] Transcript of Proceedings (24 February 2025) 21.16-22.18; 38.3-38.14; 41.19-42.13.

[28] [2015] VSC 61, [8] (citations omitted).

[30] Pelley v Kotabi Pty Ltd [2021] VCC 1425.

[31] Hoser v Pelley [No 3] [2023] VSCA 257.

[32] Hoser v Pelley [No 4] [2023] VSCA 319.

[34] Hoser v Harrison [2024] FedCFam2G 436, [51] - [52] and [77] (citations omitted).

[35] Re Speedy Loans Pty Ltd [2014] VSC 273, [17].

[36] [2015] VSCA 330 ('Malec').

[37] Ibid, [47]-[51] (citations omitted).

[38] [2008] VSCA 70; (2008) 66 ACSR 67 (Dodds-Streeton JA, Neave JA agreeing, [1] and Kellam JA agreeing, [2]).

[41] In2Ply Pty Ltd v Amerind Pty Ltd (in liq) (recs and mgrs apptd) (2014) 32 ACLC 14-075, 939-940 [31], citing Diploma Construction (WA) Pty Ltd v KPA Architects Pty Ltd [2014] WASCA 91.

[54] Affidavit of Raymond Hoser filed 30 January 2025, [6].

[59] Affidavit of Raymond Hoser filed 30 January 2025, [9].

[60] (2007) 230 CLR 89, 151 [134]; 159 [158] (Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Callinan, Heydon and Crennan JJ) (citations omitted).

[62] Barclays Australia (Finance) Ltd v Mike Gaffikin Marine Pty Ltd (1996) 21 ACSR 235.

[64] Transcript of Proceedings (24 February 2025) 49.11-49.31.

[70] Salomon v Salomon & Co Ltd [1897] A.C. 22.

[72] Transcript of Proceedings (24 February 2025) 86.1-86.13.

[73] Ibid, 67.19-67.31; 69.26-69.31; 70.14-70.31.

Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015

Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Procedural fairness - Self-represented litigant - Scandalous affidavit material and submissions filed by plaintiff - Rule 27.07(b) of the Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015 (Vic) - Court's power to remove material from the Court file - Rajski v Scitec Corporation Pty Ltd [1986] NSWCA 1 - Bahonko v Sterjov (2008) 166 FCR 415 - Rule 28.05 of the Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015 (Vic) - Court's power to mark material as confidential.

First Plaintiff v Defendant

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