Lewis v Nortex Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2013] FCAFC 56

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Lewis v Nortex Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2013] FCAFC 56 Citation: Lewis v Nortex Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2013] FCAFC 56

Appeal from: Lewis v Nortex Pty Limited (in liq) [2012] FCA 621

Parties: PETER LAWRENCE LEWIS v NORTEX PTY LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION) (ACN 002 903 362) and BRIAN RAYMOND SILVIA IN HIS CAPACITY AS LIQUIDATOR OF NORTEX PTY LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION)

File number: NSD 954 of 2012

Judges: DOWSETT, JAGOT AND YATES JJ

Date of judgment: 3 June 2013

Catchwords: BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY – validity of a bankruptcy notice which identified a company and its liquidator as the "creditor" – whether each of the judgments or orders relied on to found a bankruptcy notice must be "on the same account" – whether the relevant orders involved payment on different accounts – capacity in which the liquidator was to receive money payable under the relevant orders

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 2, 23 Bankruptcy Act 1924 (Cth) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 30, 40, 41, 44 Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Act 2002 (Cth) Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Bill 2002 Bankruptcy Act 1869 (Imp) ss 6, 7 Bankruptcy Act 1914 (Imp) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 477

Cases cited: Adams v Lambert (2006) 228 CLR 409 cited DJ Sweeney Holdings Pty Ltd v McLeod (2011) 253 FLR 1 cited Ebert v The Union Trustee Co of Australia Ltd (1960) 104 CLR 346 cited Ex parte Chinery (1884) 12 QBD 342 cited Ex parte Jones [1913] WN 263 cited Ex parte Kibble; In re Onslow (1875) 10 LR Ch App 373 cited Ex parte Muirhead (1876) 2 ChD 22 considered GPW Aussie Exports v Latin & Anor (1998) 85 FCR 324 cited Illawarra Credit Union Ltd v Objniczak (unreported, Federal Court NG 7300 of 1998, 26 May 1998) cited In re a Debtor [1929] 2 Ch 146 considered In re a Debtor [1952] 1 Ch 192 cited In re Andrew [1875] 1 Ch D 358 cited In re Low; Ex parte Argentine Goldfields Ltd (1891) 1 QB 147 considered James v Abrahams (1981) 34 ALR 657 cited Kation Pty Ltd v Lamru Pty Ltd; Lewis v Nortex Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 5) [2010] NSWCA 294 cited Kleinwort Benson Australia Ltd v Crowl (1988) 165 CLR 71 cited Klewer v Walton (2004) 2 ABC(NS) 344 cited Lewis v Lamru Pty Ltd (2012) 207 FCR 1 Mason v Mason [1933] P 199 considered Re Anderson; Ex parte Alexander (1927) 27 SR(NSW) 296 cited Re Arkell; Ex parte Arkell (1889) 61 LT 90 cited Re Bond; Ex parte HongKongBank of Australia Ltd (1991) 33 FCR 426 cited Re Monckton; Ex parte Robinson (1951) 15 ABC 193 cited Re Williams; Ex parte Englefield [1919] VLR 566 considered Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Frid [2004] 2 AC 506 cited Shelley v Shelley (No 1) [1952] P 107 cited Vogwell v Vogwell (1939) 11 ABC 83 cited Halsbury's Laws of England (3rd ed) vol 2 McDonald, Henry and Meek, Australian Bankruptcy Law and Practice (Law Book Company of Australia Ltd, 1940)