Cooper v Atkin [2020] NSWSC 828

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cooper v Atkin [2020] NSWSC 828 Hearing dates: 16 April 2020 Date of orders: 30 June 2020 Decision date: 30 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court orders: 1. The amended Summons filed 24 April 2019 be dismissed. 2. If costs cannot be agreed within seven days, written submissions can be made within ten days thereafter, and the issue of costs will be determined on the papers. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – Family provision – Claim by adult step-child of the deceased for provision under Ch 3 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) – Eligible person – No dispute as to eligibility under s 57(1)(e) of the Act – Whether factors which warrant the making of the application – Court finds factors which warrant the making of the application – Court not satisfied that adequate provision for the proper maintenance, education or advancement in life of the person in whose favour the order is to be made has not been made by the will of the deceased – If that conclusion wrong – As a matter of discretion Court not satisfied that order should be made – Summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (UK), c 63 Practice Note SC Eq 7, par 24 Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW), s 86 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), s 3, ss 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65, 66, 72, 84, 91, 99 Cases Cited: Andrew v Andrew (2012) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Bkassini v Sarkis [2017] NSWSC 1487 Boettcher v Driscoll (2014) 119 SASR 523; [2014] SASC 86 Borebor v Keane (2013) 11 ASTLR 96; [2013] VSC 35 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Bowyer v Wood (2007) 99 SASR 190; [2007] SASC 327 Burke v Burke (No 2) (2015) 13 ASTLR 313; [2015] NSWCA 195 Carey v Robson (No 2) [2009] NSWSC 1199 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Dannawi v Dannaway [2019] NSWSC 1287 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 Detheridge v Detheridge [2019] NSWSC 183 Devereaux-Warnes v Hall (No 3) (2007) 35 WAR 127; [2007] WASCA 235; Diver v Neal (2009) 2 ASTLR 89; [2009] NSWCA 54 Estate Pascale [2016] NSWSC 443 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Forsyth v Sinclair (No 2) (2010) 28 VR 635; [2010] VSCA 195 Freeman v Jaques [2006] 1 Qd R 318; [2005] QCA 423 Golosky v Golosky [1993] NSWCA 111 Goodchild v James (1994) 13 WAR 229 Goodman v Windeyer (1980) 144 CLR 490; [1980] HCA 31 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Grant v Roberts; Smith v Smith; Roberts v Smith; Curtis v Smith [2019] NSWSC 843 Graziani v Graziani (Supreme Court (NSW), Cohen J, 20 February 1987, unrep) Hampson v Hampson (2010) 5 ASTLR 116; [2010] NSWCA 359 Harkness v Harkness (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 35 Heyward v Fisher (Court of Appeal (NSW), Kirby P, 26 April 1985, unrep) Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Ilott v The Blue Cross [2018] AC 545; [2017] UKSC 17 In re Allen (Deceased); Allen v Manchester [1922] NZLR 218 Kay v Archbold [2008] NSWSC 254 Koellner v Spicer [2019] NSWSC 1571 Lodin v Lodin [2018] HCASL 84 Lodin v Lodin (2017) 16 ASTLR 576; [2017] NSWCA 327 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566; [1957] HCA 82 McKenzie v Topp [2004] VSC 90 Morris v Smoel [2014] VSC 32 Page v Page (2017) 16 ASTLR 331; [2017] NSWCA 141 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9; [1962] HCA 19 Purnell v Tindale [2020] NSWSC 746 R (M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] 1 WLR 1808; [2008] UKHL 52 Re Coventry (deceased) [1979] 3 All ER 815 Sam Wardy v Gordon Salier; William Wardy v Gordon Salier; Hassiba Wardy v Estate of late Edmond Wadih Wardy, developer and Ch 3 of the Succession Act 2006 [2014] NSWSC 473 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Slack v Rogan; Palffy v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253; [2013] NSWSC 522 Spata v Tumino (2018) 95 NSWLR 706; [2018] NSWCA 17 Steinmetz v Shannon (2019) 99 NSWLR 687; [2019] NSWCA 114 Stern v Sekers; Sekers v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Sung v Malaxos [2015] NSWSC 186 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Walker v Walker (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 17 May 1996, unrep) White v Barron (1980) 144 CLR 431; [1980] HCA 14 Wilcox v Wilcox [2012] NSWSC 1138 Yee v Yee [2017] NSWCA 305 Texts Cited: "The Concept of Moral Duty in the Law of Family Provision – A Gloss or Critical Understanding?" (1999) 5(1) Australian Journal of Legal History 5 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kristi Cooper (Plaintiff) Lynda Atkin (first Defendant) Andrew Helgesen (second Defendant) Vanessa Nyassi (third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: L Clarke (Plaintiff) J A Trebeck (Defendant)