Stolyar v Scott (Trustee) [2023] FCAFC 61

Federal Court of Australia

Stolyar v Scott (Trustee) [2023] FCAFC 61 Appeal from: Scott (Trustee), in the matter of Stolyar (Bankrupt) v Stolyar [2022] FCA 691 Scott (Trustee), in the matter of Stolyar (Bankrupt) v Stolyar (No 2) [2022] FCA 1118

File number(s): NSD 792 of 2022

Judgment of: BANKS-SMITH, DOWNES AND JACKMAN JJ

Date of judgment: 27 April 2023

Catchwords: APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – where arguments sought to be advanced which were not advanced at first instance – where the arguments may have been met by evidence at the trial – arguments that a claim is not maintainable must be expressly pleaded under r 16.08(c) of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – whether the primary judge erred in their exercise of discretion in ordering indemnity costs EQUITY – whether the primary judge erred in focussing on the source of purchase moneys as being determinative of whether a resulting trust arises – whether the presumption of a resulting trust is "weak" and only arises where there is an absence of objective evidence as to the intention of the person providing the funds – whether any resulting trust should have been in favour of entities other than the bankrupt – whether oral agreement gave rise to a trust or merely to a contractual arrangement – whether analysis of the availability of the defence of laches should have focussed on the conduct of the bankrupt or the trustee in bankruptcy

Legislation: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) s 120 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 16.08(c)

Cases cited: Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244 Bosanac v Commissioner of Taxation (2022) 405 ALR 424; [2022] HCA 34 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333 Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242; [1984] HCA 81 Cassegrain v Gerard Cassegrain & Co Pty Ltd (2015) 254 CLR 425; [2015] HCA 2 El-Debel v Micheletto (Trustee) (2021) 153 ACSR 15; [2021] FCAFC 117 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Gosper v Sawyer (1985) 160 CLR 548; [1985] HCA 19 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Korda v Australian Executor Trustees (SA) Limited (2015) 255 CLR 62; [2015] HCA 6 Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316; [1989] HCA 4 In re Hallett's Estate; Knatchbull v Hallett (1880) 13 Ch D 696 Royal Guardian Mortgage Management Pty Ltd v Nguyen (2016) 332 ALR 128; [2016] NSWCA 88 Scott (Trustee), in the matter of Stolyar (Bankrupt) v Stolyar [2022] FCA 691 Scott (Trustee), in the matter of Stolyar (Bankrupt) v Stolyar (No 2) [2022] FCA 1118 Sino Iron Pty Ltd v Worldwide Wagering Pty Ltd (2017) 52 VR 664; [2017] VSC 101 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418; [1950] HCA 35 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 Sze Tu v Lowe (2014) 89 NSWLR 317; [2014] NSWCA 462 Twigg v Twigg [2022] NSWCA 68 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491; [1988] HCA 12 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) (1985) 60 ALR 68; [1985] HCA 28