Wenkart v Pantzer [2010] FCA 866

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Wenkart v Pantzer [2010] FCA 866 Citation: Wenkart v Pantzer [2010] FCA 866

Parties: THOMAS RICHARD WENKART v WARREN PANTZER AS FORMER TRUSTEE OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS RICHARD WENKART, HAPDAY HOLDINGS PTY LTD (ACN 001 185 253), MACQUARIE HEALTH CORPORATION LIMITED (ACN 003 531 860) AND THROVENA PTY LIMITED (ACN 001 738 763); WARREN PANTZER AS FORMER TRUSTEE OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS RICHARD WENKART v THOMAS RICHARD WENKART AND HAPDAY HOLDINGS PTY LTD (ACN 001 185 253)

File number: NSD 7051 of 2002

Judge: FLICK J

Date of judgment: 13 August 2010

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – costs – indemnity costs – interest up to judgment – inchoate cause of action BANKRUPTCY – trustee's right to remuneration – work reasonably undertaken – rule in Cherry v Boultbee – the decision in Baldry v Jackson

Legislation: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), ss 73 and 74 Bankruptcy (Estate Charges) Act 1997 (Cth) Bankruptcy Regulations 1996 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 22, s 37M, s 43, s 51A

Cases cited: Adsett v Berlouis (1992) 37 FCR 201, considered Airservices Australia v Jeppesen Sanderson Inc [2006] FCA 906, cited Ansett Australia Ltd v Travel Software Solutions Pty Ltd [2007] VSC 326, 214 FLR 203, cited Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27, 258 ALR 14, cited Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Global Gaming Supplies Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 277, cited Baldry v Jackson [1976] 2 NSWLR 415, considered Barrett Property Group Ltd v Metricon Homes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] FCA 1823, cited Boensch v Pascoe [2007] FCA 1977, 5 ABC(NS) 480, cited Byrnes v Jokona Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 41, cited Cherry v Boultbee (1839) 4 My & Cr 442, 41 ER 171, considered Dias Aluminium Products Pty Ltd v Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd (No 2) [2005] FCA 1400, 225 ALR 569, cited Donald Financial Enterprises Pty Ltd v APIR Systems Ltd (No 2) [2008] FCA 1269, cited Freeman v Joiner [2005] FCAFC 149, 3 ABC(NS) 332, cited Frost v Sheahan [2005] FCA 1014, 3 ABC(NS) 288, cited Genocanna Nominees Pty Ltd v Thirsty Point Pty Ltd[2006] FCA 1268, followed Gladstone Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Ross Wills (1984) 6 FCR 496, cited Gray v Gray [2004] NSWCA 408, 12 BPR 22,755, cited Gray v Guardian Trust Australia Ltd [2002] NSWSC 1218, cited Hanave Pty Ltd v LFOT Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 180, 136 FCR 566, followed HK Frost Holdings Pty Ltd (in liq) v Darvall McCutcheon (a firm) [1999] FCA 795, applied In Shoppe Pty Ltd v Smith (1976) 33 FLR 107, 6 ATR 242, cited McKinnon v Pattison [2009] FCA 1421, cited O'Keeffe v Hayes Knight GTO Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 389, 218 ALR 604, cited Pantzer v Wenkart [2006] FCAFC 140, 153 FCR 466, discussed Perpetual Trustees (WA) Ltd v Equus Corp Pty Ltd (Unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales Equity Division, Young J, 5 March 1998), cited Pollack v Retravision (NSW) Ltd (Unreported, Federal Court of Australia, Moore J, 23 December 1996), cited Pyrenees Vineyard Management Ltd v Frajman [2008] VSC 552, cited Ruddock v Vadarlis (No 2) [2001] FCA 1865, 115 FCR 229, cited Seven Network Limited v News Limited [2007] FCA 1062, cited Sony Entertainment (Australia) Ltd v Smith [2005] FCA 228, 215 ALR 788, cited SSSL Realisations (2002) Ltd v AIG Europe (UK) Ltd [2006] Ch 610, considered Trade Practices Commission v Nicholas Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 3) (1979) 42 FLR 213, 28 ALR 201, cited Vamuta Pty Ltd v Sogo Co Ltd (1996) 68 FCR 151, cited Wenkart v Pantzer [2003] FCA 471, cited Wenkart v Pantzer (No 8) [2004] FCA 280, 135 FCR 422, cited Wenkart v Pantzer [2007] FCA 1589, 5 ABC(NS) 642, cited Wenkart v Pantzer [2007] HCA Trans 99, cited Wenkart v Pantzer [2008] FCA 1387, cited Wenkart v Pantzer [2008] FCA 478, 6 ABC(NS) 37, cited Wenkart v Pantzer [2009] FCA 1086, cited Whitaker v Commissioner of Taxation (1998) 82 FCR 261, applied Attorney-General's Department, A Strategic Framework for Access to Justice in the Federal Civil Justice System, September 2009 Aitken, L 'Recent applications of the rule in Cherry v Boultbee (or Jeffs v Wood)' (2010) 84 Australian Law Journal 191 Meagher R, Heydon D and Leeming M, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines & Remedies (4th ed, 2002) Young P W, Croft C and Smith M L, On Equity (2009)