Kostov v Registrar of the Federal Court
[2021] FCA 1559
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Federal Court of Australia
Decision date
2021-12-13
Before
Farrell J, Thawley J
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (9 paragraphs)
- The application be dismissed. Note: Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.
INTRODUCTION 1 The applicant sought to file two documents dated 18 December 2020: (1) first, an application for an extension of time in which to apply for an order for review under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) (ADJR Act) of a decision of the Official Trustee in Bankruptcy made on 15 November 2018; and, (2) secondly, an affidavit in support of that application for an extension of time. 2 On 13 January 2021, a Registrar of the Court refused to accept either document for filing. That decision was made under Rule 2.26 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) which provides: 2.26 Refusal to accept a document for filing - abuse of process or frivolous or vexatious documents A Registrar may refuse to accept a document (including a document that would, if accepted, become an originating application) if the Registrar is satisfied that the document is an abuse of the process of the Court or is frivolous or vexatious: (a) on the face of the document; or (b) by reference to any documents already filed or submitted for filing with the document. 3 The Registrar provided his reasons for refusing to accept Ms Kostov's documents for filing by way of a letter dated 13 January 2021. The reasons were: In considering these documents, I have considered Order 4 of the orders of the Court made on 20 July 2020 in proceeding NSD30/2019 (Order) and the associated reasons for judgment published by Justice Farrell on 31 July 2020 (Reasons). I note that you seek to apply to the Court for an extension of time to "review the decision of the Respondent that Section 60(4) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) did not apply, to proceedings before the NCAT Tribunal, the decision made on 15 November 2018" (Proposed Application). In my view, the relief sought in the Proposed Application is identical to the relief sought in proceeding NSD30/2019: see Reasons, in particular at [3]. The legal merits of this claim were considered and rejected: see Reasons, in particular at [28]. While noting your email to the Registry of 23 December 2020, there can be no doubt that the Order applies to the Proposed Application: see Reasons at [30]. I note there is no suggestion that the costs referred to in the Order have been paid. In these circumstances, the Proposed Application can be clearly seen to be foredoomed to fail. It follows that the documents are an abuse of the process of the Court. 4 The reference to Order 4 in the first paragraph of the Registrar's reasons was a reference to the following order made by Farrell J on 20 July 2020: Pursuant to r 39.03(2) of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), any further proceedings brought by the applicant against either of the respondents [Australian Financial Security Authority and the Official Trustee in Bankruptcy] for some or all of the same or substantially the same causes of action or relief as those claimed in these proceedings be stayed until the costs the subject of order 3 have been paid. 5 The reference to proceeding NSD30/2019 is a reference to Justice Farrell's decision in Kostov (Bankrupt) v Australian Financial Security Authority, in the matter of Kostov [2020] FCA 1105 (Kostov v AFSA). 6 In summary, the Registrar considered that the documents which Ms Kostov had sought to file were an abuse of the process of the court for two reasons: (1) first, he considered that the relief sought by Ms Kostov was identical to the relief which had been sought and denied in Kostov v AFSA; and (2) secondly, he concluded that Order 4 of the orders made on 20 July 2020 in Kostov v AFSA applied to the application which the applicant proposed to commence by filing the documents and was operative because Ms Kostov had not paid the costs which had been ordered. 7 Ms Kostov seeks an extension of time to commence proceedings to review the Registrar's decision. In the draft originating application the subject of her request for an extension of time for review of the Registrar's decision, Ms Kostov stated the details of her claim and the grounds of application as follows: Details of claim The Applicant is aggrieved by the decision because: 1. The Registrar has made an erroneous decision, and denies the Applicant, the right to have a wrongful decision, of AFSA reviewed, per normal administrative review process, which is, causing her harm, loss and damage to property, and further, financial loss. 2. The Applicant has suffered, and continues to suffer, loss and harm as a result of the Respondent refusing to allow her decision be reviewed, and therefore asks this honourable Court to review the Registrar's decision. 3. The Registrar, is denying the Applicant, the basic legal right, to have an administrative decision, reviewed, by this Court, of which, she is legally entitled. Grounds of application 1. In his letter of 13 January 2021, the Registrar stated, my application for Judicial Review of the Trustee's decision (NCAT decision) of 15 November 2018, fell within orders made by Her Honour Farrell J, on 20 July 2020. Such, is in error. 2. My application, for administrative review, of the Trustee (NCAT) decision, of 15 November 2018, does not fall within, those orders. This, is a simply administrative review, of a decision, made 18 months prior, to the orders made, by Her Honour Farrell J. I am not seeking, any recourse, or financial benefit, against the Trustee, I am simply seeking, a review of their decision, that a personal injury action, I had filed, prior to my purported bankruptcy, of 18 July 2018, does not fall within Section 60(4), of the Bankruptcy Act, which states: (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, a bankrupt may continue, in his or her own name, an action commenced by him or her before he or she became a bankrupt in respect of: (a) any personal injury or wrong done to the bankrupt, his or her spouse or de facto partner or a member of his or her family; or (b) the death of his or her spouse or de facto partner or of a member of his or her family. 3. I therefore submit, the Registrar, has erred in this letter of 13 January 2021, that my application falls within the orders of 20 July 2020, and such is an abuse of power by the Registrar, as the Registrar, is denying the Applicant, the basic legal right, to have an administrative decision, reviewed, by this Court, of which, she is legally entitled. 4. I also submit, that it is appropriate, a Judge, make the determination, as to the applicability of the orders of 20 July 2020, especially as they relate to a personal injury action contained within Section 60(4) of the Bankruptcy Act, especially in circumstances where, the said decision, has caused myself serious personal injury, which requires to be rectified. 8 Ms Kostov's application for an extension of time was listed for a case management hearing on 1 September 2021. She did not appear. The Court made the following orders on that occasion: • The applicant is to file any submissions, limited to 10 pages, in support of her application for an extension of time by 8 September 2021. • The application for the extension of time is to be determined on the papers. 9 No submissions have been filed. 10 For the reasons which follow, the application for an extension of time is dismissed.