Williamson v Michell (Trustee) [2019] FCA 481

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Williamson v Michell (Trustee) [2019] FCA 481 File number: VID 118 of 2018 VID 691 of 2018

Judge: MOSHINSKY J

Date of judgment: 10 April 2019

Catchwords: BANKRUPTCY – annulment – application by bankrupt for annulment of bankruptcy– where bankruptcy founded on debtor's petition – where accompanying statement of affairs contained false statements – where bankrupt sought to rely on own abuse of process as basis for annulment – whether discretion to annul bankruptcy enlivened – whether, if discretion to annul bankruptcy was enlivened, the bankruptcy should be annulled – solvency of bankrupt – other discretionary considerations – application for annulment dismissed BANKRUPTCY – application to review trustee's decisions to admit portions of certain proofs of debt – whether decisions of trustee should be reversed or varied

Legislation: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), ss 5, 55, 73, 82, 83, 84, 102, 104, 153B Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 9, 95A, 588FB, 588FC, 588FDA, 588FE, 588FF, 588G, 588M

Cases cited: Beaman v Bond (2017) 254 FCR 480 Bulic v Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (2007) 5 ABC(NS) 122; [2007] FCA 307 BWK Elders (Australia) Pty Ltd v White (2004) 3 ABC(NS) 70; [2004] FCA 1611 Cheung v Burness (Trustee) [2018] FCA 1145 Clyne v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1984) 154 CLR 589 Coshott v Burke (2012) 10 ABC(NS) 459; [2012] FCA 517 Francis v Eggleston Mitchell Lawyers Pty Ltd (2014) 12 ABC(NS) 25; [2014] FCAFC 18 Heinrich v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2003] FCAFC 315 Marek v Tregenza (1963) 109 CLR 1 Ozer v Australian Liquor Marketers Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 291 Re Lawson (1939) 11 ABC 137 Shaw v Yarranova Pty Ltd (2017) 252 FCR 267 Taylor v Rudaks (2007) 166 FCR 451