YONG TECK CHONG v ERA REALTY NETWORK PTE LTD & Anor

Case Significance

Yong Teck Chong v ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd and another [2024] SGHC 43 was decided by Choo Han Teck J in the General Division of the High Court on 14 February 2024, in Originating Application No 1206 of 2023, brought under Order 18 Rule 19(2) of the Rules of Court 2021. The applicant, Mr Yong Teck Chong, a 65-year-old management consultant, had sued the first respondent, ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd (a real estate agency), and the second respondent, Tan Ching Siong (its agent), in MC/MC 3465 of 2022 for the return of $5,350 paid as commission. That case was settled and a settlement agreement was recorded before DR Lewis Tan on 2 June 2022.

The judgment records that Mr Yong later applied in MC/OA 9 of 2023 to set aside the settlement order, which was dismissed by DR Elaine Lim; his appeal in MC/RA 8 of 2023 was dismissed by PDJ Clement Seah; and his application for leave to appeal in MC/SUM 3588 of 2023 was refused. In the present application he sought to set aside PDJ Seah's refusal of leave and an extension of time to file a notice of appeal. After the respondents objected, the court allowed an oral application to regularise and amend the matter. The respondents were represented by Christopher Bridges Law Corporation (Kenneth Tan Siang Teck). The catchword is Civil Procedure (Appeals, Leave).