Sims v SPM Business Consultants Pty Limited [2002] FCA 1588

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Sims v SPM Business Consultants Pty Limited [2002] FCA 1588

CORPORATIONS – receivership – receiver requested delivery up of accounting practice assets including client files and client records – whether the sale of the goodwill of the accounting practice prior to receivership carried with it the transfer of the property in the client files – whether abandonment of property – detinue – appropriate remedy where documents subsequently added to the file

Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 93 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Part 42 r 5 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 23, s 53 Federal Court Rules Order 35 r 1, Order 37 r 7 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Part 5.3A

Breen v Williams (1995-1996) 186 CLR 71 applied Wentworth v De Montfort (1988) 15 NSWLR 348 cited Commissioner of Taxation v Murry (1998) 193 CLR 605 cited Barrier Wharfs Ltd v W Scott Fell & Co Ltd (1908) 5 CLR 647 considered Moorhouse v Angus & Robertson (No 1) Pty Ltd (1981) 1 NSWLR 700 applied Cook v Saroukos (1989) 97 FLR 33 cited Thomas v Robinson [1977] 1 NZLR 385 cited Rendell v Associated Finance Pty Ltd [1957] VR 604 applied McKeown v Cavalier Yachts Pty Ltd (1988) 13 NSWLR 303 considered The National Bus Co Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1998) 98 ATC 4170 considered Trindade & Cane The Law of Torts in Australia (3rd Edn) 1999 Halsbury's Laws of Australia, Personal Property [315-350] Fleming The Law of Torts (9th Edn) 1998 Alston "Chattels Attached to Chattels" (1996) 4 Australian Property Law Journal 120 ANTHONY MILTON SIMS & ORS v SPM BUSINESS CONSULTANTS PTY LIMITED & ORS N 3061 OF 2002 HELY J 18 DECEMBER 2002 SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY N 3061 OF 2002

BETWEEN: ANTHONY MILTON SIMS

FIRST APPLICANT

SHARPE PARTNERS (SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE) PTY LIMITED (RECEIVER & MANAGER APPOINTED)