Lee Tat Development v Management Corp: Dispute over Right of Way & Malicious Prosecution

Lee Tat Development Pte Ltd sued Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 301 in the High Court of Singapore, alleging wrongful use of land, malicious prosecution, and malicious falsehood. The dispute stemmed from a long-standing disagreement over a right of way. The defendant applied to strike out the plaintiff's action, arguing it disclosed no reasonable cause of action and was frivolous and vexatious. Choo Han Teck J dismissed the defendant's application, finding that the matter should be determined on the merits at trial.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Defendant's application to strike out the plaintiff’s action dismissed with costs reserved to the trial judge.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Lee Tat Development sues Management Corporation for wrongful use of land, malicious prosecution, and falsehood. The court dismissed the application to strike out the plaintiff's action.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Lee Tat Development Pte LtdPlaintiffCorporationApplication to strike out not grantedNeutral
Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 301DefendantCorporationApplication to strike out dismissedLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Tham LijingUniLegal LLC
Balasubramaniam Ernest YogarajahUniLegal LLC
Stephanie TanUniLegal LLC
Chelva R RajahUniLegal LLC
Tan Chee MengWongPartnership LLP
Sngeeta RaiWongPartnership LLP
Wong Shu YuWongPartnership LLP
Quek Kian Teck GabrielWongPartnership LLP

4. Facts

  1. The parties have a long history of litigation regarding a right of way.
  2. The plaintiff owns the legal title to the property over which the right of way extends.
  3. The defendant's right of way was initially recognized by multiple Courts of Appeal.
  4. A fourth Court of Appeal extinguished the defendant's right of way in 2008.
  5. The plaintiff claims the defendant abused the court process to maintain a prestigious address.
  6. The plaintiff claims the defendant made malicious falsehoods to the press.
  7. The plaintiff claims the defendant's conduct amounted to an actionable trespass.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Lee Tat Development Pte Ltd v Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 301, Suit No 1087 of 2012 (Summons No 6062 of 2014), [2015] SGHC 44

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Suit 3667 of 1974 commenced regarding a right of way.
Fourth Court of Appeal extinguished the defendant’s right of way.
Court of Appeal’s decision in the fifth action.
Action filed by the plaintiff.
Action served on the defendant.
Amended defence filed.
Defendant's application to strike out the plaintiff’s action dismissed.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Abuse of Court Process
    • Outcome: The court found that this issue should be determined at trial.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Malicious Prosecution
    • Outcome: The court found that this issue should be determined at trial.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Malicious Falsehood
    • Outcome: The court found that this issue should be determined at trial.
    • Category: Substantive
  4. Trespass
    • Outcome: The court found that this issue should be determined at trial.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Abuse of Court Process
  • Malicious Prosecution
  • Malicious Falsehood
  • Trespass

10. Practice Areas

  • Commercial Litigation

11. Industries

  • Real Estate

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Lee Tat Development Pte Ltd v Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 301High CourtYes[2015] SGHC 44SingaporeThis is the current case.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
O 18 r 19 (Cap 322, R 5, 2014 Rev Ed)

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Right of way
  • Easement
  • Malicious prosecution
  • Malicious falsehood
  • Trespass
  • Abuse of process
  • Interlocutory application
  • Strike out

15.2 Keywords

  • Right of way
  • Malicious prosecution
  • Trespass
  • Abuse of process
  • Singapore
  • High Court
  • Civil Litigation

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Litigation80
Abuse of Process70
Civil Litigation70
Malicious Falsehood60
Property Law40
Property Damage30
Contract Law20
Commercial Disputes20
Breach of Contract20
Res Judicata20
Service out of jurisdiction10

16. Subjects

  • Civil Litigation
  • Property Law
  • Tort