Official Trustee in Bankruptcy v Lopatinsky [2003] FCAFC 109

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Official Trustee in Bankruptcy v Lopatinsky [2003] FCAFC 109

BANKRUPTCY – transaction allegedly void against Official Trustee - payment of more than one-half interest of the matrimonial home to the wife on failure of the marriage pursuant to an informal agreement of the husband (bankrupt) and wife – whether an informal agreement between the bankrupt and wife can constitute an implied forbearance to sue – whether the transferee gave consideration of less value than the market value of the property – relationship between consideration required under s 120 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) and factors relevant under s79 of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 120, 121, 139ZQ, 139ZS Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) ss 87, 79 Baumgartner v Baumgartner (1987) 164 CLR 137 followed Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242 followed Mateo v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2002) 117 FCR 179 not followed Official Trustee in Bankruptcy v Mateo [2003] FCAFC 26 applied Fodare Pty Limited v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] FCA 1388 applied Re Sabri; Ex parte Brien v Sabri (1996) 137 FLR 165 referred to Wigan v English & Scottish Law Life Assurance Association [1909] 1 Ch 291 referred to In Re Pope; Ex parte Dicksee [1908] 2 KB 169 referred to Re Abbott (a bankrupt); Ex parte the trustee of the Property of the bankrupt v Abbott [1983] Ch 45 referred to Barton v Official Receiver (1996) 161 CLR 75 considered Ex parte Hillman; In re Pumfrey (1879) 10 Ch D 622 referred to In re a Debtor; Ex parte Official Receiver v Morrison [1965] 1 WLR 1498 cited In re Windle [1975] 1 WLR 1628 cited Victorian Producers' Co-operative Co Ltd v Kenneth [1999] FCA 1488 cited Official Trustee in Bankruptcy v Mitchell (1992) 38 FCR 364 cited Sutherland v Brien (1999) 149 FLR 321 applied McVeigh v Zanella [2000] FCA 1890 applied Alliance Bank v Broom (Limited) (1864) 2 Dr & Sm 289 cited In Marriage of Woodcock (1997) 137 FLR 14 applied Muschinski v Dodds (1985) 160 CLR 583 followed Green v Green (1989) 17 NSWLR 343 cited Hagan v Waterhouse (1992) 34 NSWLR 308 referred to Re Lucera; Ex parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy v Lucera (1994) 53 FCR 329 cited Halse v Norton (1997) 76 FCR 389 at 398 followed Re Pearson; Ex parte Wansley v Pearson (1993) 46 FCR 55 applied Re Bond; Ex parte Bond v Caddy (No 1) (1994) 11 WAR 330 at 336 referred to Abela v Public Trustee [1983] 1 NSWLR 308 cited Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd [1999] FCA 1010 referred to Treitel, The Law of Contract, 10th edn, Sweet and Maxwell, 1999 Butt, Land Law, 3rd edn, LBC Information Services, 1996 OFFICIAL TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY v MARGARET GRACE LOPATINSKY N775 of 2002 LEE, WHITLAM and JACOBSON JJ 30 MAY 2003 SYDNEY