O'Shannassy v Sarina (Appeal) [2024] FCA 880

Federal Court of Australia

O'Shannassy v Sarina (Appeal) [2024] FCA 880 Appeal from: Sarina v O'Shannassy (No 7) [2024] FedCFamC2G 102

File number: NSD 220 of 2024

Judgment of: STEWART J

Date of judgment: 8 August 2024

Catchwords: BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY – where by an order for judgment liability has been determined but damages not yet assessed on a defamation claim at the time the defendant became bankrupt – whether the unassessed claim constitutes a provable debt in their bankruptcy – whether such a judgment resulted in a merger of the cause of action in the judgment – whether it otherwise remains a demand in the nature of unliquidated damages – whether such a judgment is relevantly analogous to an unquantified costs order – leave to appeal granted – appeal dismissed

Legislation: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), ss 82, 58(3), 153(1)

Cases cited: Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Ltd [2016] HCA 16; 259 CLR 1 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Kritharas; Re Kritharas [2000] FCA 1442; 105 FCR 444 Barodawala v Perinparajah [2022] VSCA 198; 68 VR 329 Burns v Lipman [1975] HCA 2; 132 CLR 157 Camberwell City Council v Camberwell Shopping Centre Pty Ltd [1994] 1 VR 163 Clayton v Bant [2020] HCA 44; 272 CLR 1 Coventry v Charter Pacific Corp Ltd [2005] HCA 67; 227 CLR 234 Davey v Vrsecky (Trustee), in the matter of Dessmann [2023] FCA 1274 Director General, Department of Services, Technology & Administration v Veall (No 6) [2012] NSWSC 1118 Durolek v Pier (WA) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2019] WASCA 138 Electricity Commission of New South Wales v Lapthorne [1971] HCA 11; 124 CLR 177 Foots v Southern Cross Mine Management Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 56; 234 CLR 52 Goldrei, Foucard & Son v Sinclair and Russian Chamber of Commerce in London [1918] 1 KB 180 (CA) Hahn v Conley [1971] HCA 56; 126 CLR 276 Hall v Busst [1960] HCA 84; 104 CLR 206 Henderson v Henderson (1844) 6 QB 288 Henley v Soper (1828) 8 B&C 16 Major Engineering Pty Ltd v Timelink Pacific Pty Ltd [2007] VSCA 228 Marston v Phillips (1863) 9 LT 289 Mensink v Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia [2022] FCAFC 102; 294 FCR 101 Minister Administering the Environmental Protection and Assessment Act 1979 v Carson (1994) 35 NSWLR 342 Monash Health v Singh [2023] FCAFC 166 National Australia Bank Ltd v Maher (No 2) [1999] VSCA 189; 3 VR 589 Pekar v Jess (Trustee) [2022] FCA 1367 Polis v Zombar [2019] FCA 69; 134 ACSR 486 Ryan v Davies Bros Ltd [1921] HCA 53; 29 CLR 527 Sarina v O'Shannassy (No 5) [2020] FCCA 2911 Sarina v O'Shannassy (No 7) [2024] FedCFamC2G 102 Sarina v O'Shannassy [2021] FCA 1649 Thomas v Bunn [1991] 1 AC 362 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2015] HCA 28; 256 CLR 507 Warramunda Village Inc v Pryde [2002] FCA 250; 116 FCR 58 Zavarco plc v Nasir [2021] EWCA Civ 1217; [2022] Ch 105 Keane PA, Spencer Bower and Handley: res judicata (6th ed, LexisNexis, 2024)