Frigger v Trenfield (No 8) [2024] FCA 1438

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Frigger v Trenfield (No 8) [2024] FCA 1438 File number:

Judgment of: LOGAN J

Date of judgment: 13 December 2024

Catchwords: BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY – where the applicants apply to set aside sequestration orders made against them in 2018 on the basis of fraud and, in the alternative, that their bankruptcies be annulled – where the applicants' allegations of fraud are baseless – where exercise of discretion to sequestrate entailed no error of principle - where the applicants have not cooperated with the trustee of their bankrupt estates – where applicants failed to prove any likelihood of surplus of property divisible amount creditors after payment of creditors and making of expenses of trustee - application dismissed

Constitution Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 34A, 52, 58, 110, 153B Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 477 Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 79 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 39.05 Evidence Act 1906 (WA) s 80 Rules of Supreme Court 1971 (WA) O 43, r 3, O 66, r 57

Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Bulic v Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd [2007] FCA 307 Burke v Chesterfield Australia Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 663 Clone Pty Ltd v Players Pty Ltd (In Liq) (2018) 264 CLR 165 Clyne v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1985) 5 FCR 1 Frigger v Kitay [2017] FCA 1278 Frigger v Kitay (No 2) [2020] FCA 497 Frigger v Trenfield [2023] HCASL 110 Frigger v Trenfield (No 2) [2021] FCA 1255 Frigger v Trenfield (No 3) [2021] FCA 1471 Frigger v Trenfield (No 3) [2023] FCAFC 49 Frigger v Trenfield (No 6) [2022] FCA 1233 Frigger v Trenfield (No 7) [2023] FCA 654 Cases cited: Frigger v Trenfield (No 10) (2021) 397 ALR 24 Heinrich v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2003] FCAFC 315 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Kitay v Frigger [No 2] [2024] WASC 113 Kitay, in the matter of Frigger (No 2) [2018] FCA 1032 Lazarus Estates Ltd v Beasley [1956] 1 QB 702 McCallum v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2018] FCA 773 Re Computer Accounting and Tax Pty Ltd; Ex parte Mervyn Jonathan Kitay in his capacity as liquidator of Computer Accounting and Tax Pty Ltd (in liq) [No 4] [2014] WASC 169 Re Ditfort; Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 19 FCR 347 Re Frank; Ex parte Piliszky (1987) 16 FCR 396 Re Sarina; Ex parte Wollondilly Shire Council (1980) 43 FLR 163 Samootin v Wagner [2009] FCAFC 77 Sarina v Wollondilly Shire Council (1980) 48 FLR 372 Trojan v Corporation of Hindmarsh (1987) 16 FCR 37 Zaghoul v Jewellery & Gift Buying Service Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1045