Willoughby v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (WA) [2000] FCA 757

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Willoughby v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (WA) [2000] FCA 757 BANKRUPTCY – transfer of property rights by Trustee – application to review "act or decision" of Trustee under s 178 Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) – whether such application competent if transfer of property has been "completed".

Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 30, 30(2), 58(1)(b), 58(6), 116(1)(a), 134, 134(1)(a), 149, 153A(1), 153A(2), 153B, 154(1)(a), 178 Bankruptcy Act 1914 (Cth) s 80 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

Daemar v Industrial Commission of NSW (1990) 99 ALR 789 considered Citicorp Australia Limited v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1996) 141 ALR 667 considered Re Chirnside, Digby v Union Trustee Co of Australia Ltd [1929] VLR 217 disapproved Re Carson: Ex parte Carson; Sadleir (1960) 19 ABC 108 approved Re Tyndall (1977) 30 FLR 6 considered BERYL FRANCES WILLOUGHBY & ORS v OFFICIAL TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY (WA) & ANOR W 4 OF 2000 BURCHETT, LEE & HELY JJ 8 JUNE 2000 PERTH

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY W 4 OF 2000

ON APPEAL FROM A JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

BETWEEN: BERYL FRANCES WILLOUGHBY

JOHN FRANCIS WILLOUGHBY

MICHAEL STEPHEN WILLOUGHBY

Appellants

AND: OFFICIAL TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY (WA)

First Respondent

LAWCOVER PTY LTD

(ACN 003 326 618)

Second Respondent

BETWEEN: BERYL FRANCES WILLOUGHBY

JOHN FRANCIS WILLOUGHBY

MICHAEL STEPHEN WILLOUGHBY

Cross Respondents

AND: LAWCOVER PTY LTD

(ACN 003 326 618)

Cross Appellant

JUDGES: BURCHETT, LEE & HELY JJ

DATE OF ORDER: 8 JUNE 2000

WHERE MADE: PERTH

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The appeal be allowed insofar as it relates to the application under s 178 of the Act to review the decision of the Official Trustee to transfer to, and vest in, Lawcover Pty Ltd a chose in action, but otherwise the appeal be dismissed. The application be remitted to the primary judge for further consideration.