De Robillard v Carver [2007] FCAFC 73

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

De Robillard v Carver [2007] FCAFC 73

APPEAL – whether Federal Court has power to set aside a sequestration order on appeal – power not limited by the Bankruptcy Act – order on appeal has the result that no valid sequestration order was made. BANKRUPTCY – service of bankruptcy notice not proved to the required standard – evidentiary onus lies with serving party – service must be strictly proved – document exchange – document exchange number – document exchange facility – delivery to one branch of a document exchange facility does not constitute effective contemporaneous service of that document when the recipient maintains a facility at another branch of a document exchange facility – service of creditor's petition – personal service required – appearance at a court proceeding is taken to satisfy requirement for personal service – no facility for conditional appearance in Bankruptcy Rules – an order for sequestration can be made despite non-compliance with the rules regarding service of a creditor's petition – a bankruptcy notice may be signed on behalf of or in the name of firms, partnerships and corporations.

Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth): s 5, 33, 37, 41, 43, 52, 54, 64A, 153B, 154, 306, 307, 308 Bankruptcy Regulations 1996: 4.01, 4.02, 4.02A, 4.05, 16.01, 16.02 Federal Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2005: r 1.03, 2.06, 4.02, 4.04 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth): s 28 Federal Court Rules: O 1 r 5A, 5AB, 5AC; O 4 r 1, 7; O 7 r 1, 3, 4, 4A, 7; O 9; O 41 r 3; O 48 r 11; O52 r 17; O 52A r 11 Adams v Lambert (2006) 80 ALJR 679 Bryant v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (unreported 24 November 1995) Cameron v Cole (1944) 68 CLR 571 Cavanagh v Bank of New Zealand (1990) 22 FCR 124 Chng v Shome [2000] FCA 753 Clyne v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (No. 4) (1982) 42 ALR 703 Coleman v Lazy Days Investments Pty Ltd (1994) 55 FCR 297 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Cavanagh (1935) 53 CLR 220 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Daly v Watson (1994) 50 FCR 544 Ex parte Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 19 FCR 347 Glassford, Cook & Co Pty Ltd v William Higson & Co (1899) 25 VLR 177 Jensen v Queensland Law Society Inc (2006) 154 FCR 525 Kleinwort Benson Australia Ltd v Crowl (1988) 165 CLR 71 MacDonald v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2001) 107 FCR 72 McWilliam v Jackson (2000) 96 FCR 561 Meekin v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1999] FCA 682 National Australia Bank Ltd v Westbrook, in the matter of Westbrook [2000]FCA 246 Nilant v Macchia (2000) 104 FCR 23 Oates v Commissioner of Taxation (1990) 27 FCR 289 Pattison v Hadjimouratis (2006) 155 FCR 226 Rangott v Marshall (2004) 139 FCR 14 Re Cook (1946) 13 ABC 245 Re Coyle (1993) 42 FCR 72 Re Ditfort; Ex parte Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (NSW) (1988) 19 FCR 347 Re Finn; Ex parte Finn v Amoco Australia Ltd (1981) 58 FLR 54 Re Florance; Ex parte Turimetta Properties Pty Ltd (No 2) (1980) 39 FLR 400 Re Hanby; Ex parte Flemington Central Spares Pty Ltd (1967) 10 FLR 378 Re Schierholter; Ex part Geis (1978) 32 FLR 22 Re Vella; Ex parte Seymour (1983) 67 FLR 287 Re Williams (1968) 13 FLR 10 Sarina v Council of the Shire of Wollondilly (1980) 48 FLR 372 Simon v Vincent J O'Gorman Pty Ltd (1979) 41 FLR 95 Skalkos v T & S Recoveries Pty Ltd (2004) 141 FCR 107 Sogelease Australia Ltd v Griffin (2003) 128 FCR 399 Trustees of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary v Weir (2000) 98 FCR 447 Wren v Mahony (1972) 126 CLR 212