Owens v Lofthouse [2007] FCA 1968

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Owens v Lofthouse [2007] FCA 1968 BANKRUPTCY — appeal from orders of Federal Magistrates Court transferring beneficial title of properties to trustee in bankruptcy — whether appellant beneficial owner of properties TRUSTS — whether document titled "Declaration of Trust" effective — whether document manifested intention to declare a trust — document ambiguous in its terms — whether parol evidence rule applicable — appellant's subsequent conduct inconsistent with declaration of trust PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — application to adduce "further evidence" pursuant to Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth) s 27 — further evidence relevant to creation of purported "Declaration of Trust" — principles relevant to reception of further evidence — whether evidence could have been led below — whether evidence sufficiently cogent to warrant its reception — whether evidence likely to have produced different result Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 58 and 116 Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth) s 27 Property Law Act 1958 (Vic) s 53(1)(b) Associated Alloys Pty Ltd v ACN 001 452 106 Pty Ltd (in liq) (2000) 202 CLR 588 cited B & M Property Enterprises Pty Ltd (in liq) v Pettingill [2001] SASC 75 discussed Baker v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy, Federal Court of Australia, unreported, 3 August 1995 per Burchett, Ryan and Carr JJ cited Bank of Australasia v Palmer [1897] AC 540 cited CDJ v VAJ (1998) 197 CLR 172 cited Commissioner of Stamp Duties (Queensland) v Jolliffe (1920) 28 CLR 178 applied Cottrell v Wilcox [2002] FCAFC 53 cited Djalic v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2004) 139 FCR 292 cited Hyhonie Holdings Pty Ltd v Leroy [2003] NSWSC 624 followed Hyhonie Holdings Pty Ltd v Leroy [2004] NSWCA 72 followed Marchesi v Apostoulou [2006] FCA 1122 cited Milroy v Lord [1861–1873] All ER Rep 783 discussed Moore v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007) 161 FCR 236 cited Murdaca v Accounts Control Management Services Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 577 cited Orr v Holmes (1948) 76 CLR 632 cited Re Cozens [1913] 2 Ch 478 referred to Sobey v Nicol and Davies [2007] FCAFC 136 cited Starr v Starr [1935] SASR 263 discussed Walsh Bay Developments Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1995) 130 ALR 415 cited Williams v Grant [2004] FCAFC 178 cited Williams v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] FCA 304 cited SUZANN JANET OWENS v DAVID JAMES LOFTHOUSE (AS TRUSTEE OF THE PROPERTY OF SUZANN JANET OWENS, A BANKRUPT) VID 847 OF 2007