Ross, in the matter of Print Mail Logistics (International) Pty Ltd (in liq) v Elias [2021] FCA 419

Federal Court of Australia

Ross, in the matter of Print Mail Logistics (International) Pty Ltd (in liq) v Elias [2021] FCA 419 File number: QUD 240 of 2019

Judgment of: REEVES J

Date of judgment: 23 April 2021

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – directors' statutory duties – whether directors entered into an unreasonable director-related transaction per s 588FCA of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Act) – whether directors breached their duties under ss 180, 181 and 182 of the Act – whether directors entered into an insolvent transaction in breach of s 588G of the Act and entered into an uncommercial transaction under s 588FB of the Act – consideration of principles relating to ss 588G and 588FB of the Act.

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth)

Cases cited: Asden Developments Pty Ltd (in liq) v Dinoris (No 3) (2016) 114 ACSR 347; [2016] FCA 788 Ashby v Slipper (2014) 219 FCR 322; [2014] FCAFC 15 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australian Lending Centre Pty Ltd (No 3) (2012) 213 FCR 380; [2012] FCA 43 Blatch v Archer (1774) 98 ER 969 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chan & Ors v First Strategic Development Corporation Limited (in liq) & Anor [2015] QCA 28 Chetcuti v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2019) 270 FCR 335; [2019] FCAFC 112 Claremont Petroleum NL v Cummings (1992) 110 ALR 239 Clifton (Liquidator) v Kerry J Investment Pty Ltd trading as Clenergy (2020) 379 ALR 593; [2020] FCAFC 5 Fair Work Ombudsman v Hu (2019) 289 IR 240; [2019] FCAFC 133 First Equilibrium Pty Ltd v Bluestone Property Services Pty Ltd (in liq) (2013) 95 ACSR 654; [2013] FCAFC 108 G v H (1994) 181 CLR 387 Henderson v State of Queensland (2014) 255 CLR 1; [2014] HCA 52 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Kumar v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2020) 274 FCR 646; [2020] FCAFC 16 Lewis v Doran (2004) 184 FLR 454; [2004] NSWSC 608 Lewis v Doran (2005) 219 ALR 555; [2005] NSWCA 243 Lithgow City Council v Jackson (2011) 244 CLR 352; [2011] HCA 36 Manly Council v Byrne [2004] NSWCA 123 Southern Cross Interiors Pty Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2001) 53 NSWLR 213; [2001] NSWSC 621 Treloar Constructions Pty Limited v McMillan (2017) 318 FLR 58; [2017] NSWCA 72 Austin RP, Ramsay IM, Ford, Austin and Ramsay's Principles of Corporations Law (17th ed, 2018)