Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (No 7) [2006] FCA 1177

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (No 7) [2006] FCA 1177 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – motion to set aside deed in relation to settlement of proceedings – lack of good faith asserted INSOLVENCY – liquidator's duty to act independently in the best interests of the company Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 181(1), 477(2A), 545(1), 1321 Spalla v St George Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 513 referred to Spalla v St George Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1566 referred to St George Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd v Spalla [2000] FCA 1094 referred to Anstella Nominees Pty Ltd v St George Motor Finance Ltd [2003] FCA 466 referred to Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (No 5) [2004] FCA 1262 referred to Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (No 6) [2004] FCA 1699 referred to Beck v Spalla [2005] FCAFC 82 referred to Rambaldi v Spalla [2005] VSC 162 referred to Westpac Banking Corporation v Totterdell (1998) 29 ACSR 448 referred to Re Jay-O-Bees Pty Ltd (In Liquidation); Rosseau Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) v Jay-O-Bees Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) (2004) 50 ACSR 565 referred to Re Luxtrend Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) (1996) 135 FLR 170; [1997] 2 Qd R 86 referred to Farrow Finance Co Ltd (In Liquidation) v ANZ Executors and Trustees Company Ltd (1996) 136 FLR 154; [1998] 1 VR 50 referred to Re Tietyens Investments Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (In Liquidation) (1999) 31 ACSR 1 referred to Watson v Foxman (2000) 49 NSWLR 315 referred to Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 referred to Ex parte Sidebotham; In re Sidebotham (1880) 14 Ch D 458 referred to Northbourne Developments Pty Ltd v Reiby Chambers Pty Ltd (1989) 19 NSWLR 434 referred to Bridgeport – Advisers & Asset Managers Pty Ltd (2005) 221 ALR 146 referred to Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168 referred to Starmaker (No 51) Pty Ltd v Mawson KLM Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] SASC 313 referred to Re Hedge (No 2) (2002) 196 ALR 557 referred to Re Glowbind Pty Ltd (In Liquidation); Takchi v Parbery (2003) 181 FLR 208 referred to Yeomans v Walker (1986) 5 NSWLR 378 referred to SBBS v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2002) 194 ALR 749 referred to Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v SBAN [2002] FCAFC 431 referred to Secretary, Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs v Prince (1997) 152 ALR 127 referred to Pledger v Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services [2002] FCA 1576 referred to Star v Silvia (No 1) (1994) 12 ACLC 600 referred to Sanderson v Classic Car Insurances Pty Ltd (1986) 4 ACLC 114 referred to Cook v Northoak Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 25 ACSR 517 referred to Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 referred to Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australian Performing Right Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99 referred to Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 451 referred to Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 referred to Re Club Superstores Australia Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) (1993) 10 ACSR 730 referred to Re Allebart Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) and the Companies Act [1971] 1 NSWLR 25 referred to Dew v Richardson [1999] QSC 192 referred to Kelley v Corston [1998] 3 WLR 246 referred to ANTHONY PATRICK SPALLA v ST GEORGE MOTOR FINANCE LTD (ACN 007 656 555), ST GEORGE WHOLESALE FINANCE PTY LTD (ACN 001 834 886), ANDREW WILLIAM BECK, ANDREW STEWART HOME, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU, SIMON ALEXANDER WALLACE SMITH, ST GEORGE MOTOR WHOLESALE PTY LTD (ACN 007 664 217), GUISEPPE MICHELE RAMBALDI AND IRLMOND PTY LTD (RECEIVER & MANAGERS APPOINTED) (IN LIQUIDATION) (ACN 066 314 870) VID 631 OF 2005