Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd as trustee of the Piney Ridge Trust v Van Niekerk [2023] FCA 1185

Federal Court of Australia

Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd as trustee of the Piney Ridge Trust v Van Niekerk [2023] FCA 1185 File number: SAD 50 of 2022

Judgment of: KENNETT J

Date of judgment: 5 October 2023

Catchwords: TRUSTS AND TRUSTEES – Claim for indemnity in respect of liability incurred as trustee – where applicant had been refused leave to raise same claim in earlier proceeding shortly before trial ESTOPPEL – Res judicata, issue estoppel, Anshun estoppel – whether preclusionary doctrines operate to prevent claim being raised TRUSTS AND TRUSTEES – Whether liability arose from "gross negligence" – whether applicant entitled to indemnity under s 35(2) of the Trustee Act 1936 (SA)

Legislation: Administration and Probate Act 1919 (SA) Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) Trustee Act 1936 (SA)

Cases cited: Adsett v Berlouis (1992) 37 FCR 201 Anderson v Canaccord Genuity Financial Ltd [2022] NSWSC 58 AON Risk Services Australia Limited v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; 239 CLR 175 Armitage v Nurse [1998] Ch 241 Australian Securities Commission v AS Nominees Ltd (1995) 62 FCR 504 Birch v Ellames (1794) 2 Anst 427; 145 ER 924 Cassegrain v Gerard Cassegrain & Co Pty Limited [2013] NSWCA 454; 305 ALR 648 Champerslife Pty Ltd v Manojlovski [2010] NSWCA 33; 75 NSWLR 245 CMG Equity Investments Pty Ltd v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd [2008] FCA 455; 65 ACSR 650 Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Ridge Estate Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 292 Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Ridge Estate Pty Ltd (No 4) [2022] FCA 1 Gatsios Holdings Pty Ltd v Nick Kritharis Holdings Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 29; ATPR 41–864 Gold and Copper Resources Pty Limited v Newcrest Mining Limited [2014] NSWLEC 148 Grill v General Iron Screw Collier Co (1866) LR 1 CP 600 Henderson v Henderson (1843) 67 ER 313 Minister for Resources and Energy v Gold and Copper Resources Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 113 Nolan v Collie [2003] VSCA 39; 7 VR 287 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 QB4 Capital Pty Ltd v Guardian Securities Ltd [2023] FCAFC 72 Re Beddoe (1893) 1 Ch 547 Red Sea Tankers Ltd v Papachristidis (The Hellespont Ardent) [1997] 2 Lloyd's Rep 547 Rogers v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 251 at 275 RWG Management Ltd v Commissioner for Corporate Affairs (Vic) [1984] VR 385 Spread Trustee Co Ltd v Hutcheson [2011] UKPC 13; [2012] 2 AC 194 Tomlinson v Ramsay Food Processing Pty Ltd [2015] HCA 28; 256 CLR 507 Wong v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCAFC 242; 146 FCR 10 KR Handley, Spencer Bower and Handley: Res Judicata (LexisNexis, 5th ed, 2019)