Miles v Amos [2021] NSWSC 38

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Miles v Amos [2021] NSWSC 38 Hearing dates: 31 August, 1 – 3 September 2020 Date of orders: 3 February 2021 Decision date: 03 February 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court: (1) Orders that the third amended Statement of Claim be dismissed with costs. (2) Orders that the caveat lodged by the Plaintiff on the title to XX Callistemon Street, Mount Annan, NSW be removed within seven days. Catchwords: PERSONAL PROPERTY – Assignment of choses in action based upon Deed of Debt – Whether assignment valid if Defendant's signature on Deed of Debt not proved to be her signature – Evidence of two witnesses of the Plaintiff that Defendant signed Deed of Debt in their presence – Defendant denies having signed Deed of Debt – Two of her witnesses give evidence that the Defendant could not have done so as one, or both, of them were with her on the day the Deed of Debt said to have been signed – Fourth signatory on Deed of Debt not called and each of the other signatories deny knowing him – Also evidence of expert forensic document examiner EVIDENCE – Standard of proof – Whether the Plaintiff has satisfied the Court that the Deed of Debt was signed by the Defendant – Credibility of the lay witnesses – The expert evidence on handwriting regarding simulation of the Defendant's signature on Deed of Debt – No expert forensic evidence called on behalf of the Plaintiff – Seriousness of allegation – Whether Plaintiff able to discharge burden of proof as to authenticity of Defendant's signature on Deed of Debt PERSONAL PROPERTY – Assignment of choses in action – Whether Deed of Debt assigned and if so nature of the assignment – Whether Deed of Assignment rectified CONTRACTS – Rectification – Intention – Deeds of rectification – Where rectification of two different Deeds of Assignment purported to give effect to actual intention of the assignor and assignee, respectively, in Deeds of Assignment – Whether sufficient evidence of actual intention of each of the parties to first Deed of Assignment Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 62 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 12, 170 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 477 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 140, 160 Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW), s 5B Law of Property Act 1925, 15 & 16 Geo 5, c 20, s 136 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 74J Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 7.1, 14.28, 31.3 Cases Cited: A v State of New South Wales (2007) 230 CLR 500; [2007] HCA 10 Adami v The Queen (1959) 108 CLR 605; [1959] HCA 70 Anning v Anning (1907) 4 CLR 1049; [1907] HCA 13 Applicant M164/2002 v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2006] FCAFC 16 Armagas Ltd v Mundogas S.A. (The "Ocean Frost") [1985] 1 Lloyd's Rep 1 Bakewell v Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Ltd (2019) 372 ALR 349; [2019] NSWCA 199 Ballard v Multiplex [2012] NSWSC 426 Brannigan v Smith (2017) 18 BPR 37,193; [2017] NSWSC 1201 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R (HL) 67; 6 ER 67 Burnside v Mulgrew; Re the Estate of Doris Grabrovaz [2007] NSWSC 550 Camdex International Ltd v Bank of Zambia [1998] QB 22 Campbells Cash and Carry Pty Limited v Fostif Pty Limited (2006) 229 CLR 386; [2006] HCA 41 Charara v City First Holdings Ltd [2017] NSWDC 448 Charara v Commissioner of Taxation [2016] FCA 451 Clark v Ryan (1960) 103 CLR 486; [1960] HCA 42 Coles v Reynolds & Anor [2020] EWHC 2151 Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) v Carlenka Pty Ltd (1995) 41 NSWLR 329 Consolidated Trust Company Limited v Naylor (1936) 55 CLR 423; [1936] HCA 33 Craig v Silverbrook [2013] NSWSC 1687 Cushing v The Lady Barkly Gold Mining Company Registered (1883) 9 VLR (E) 108 Davie v Magistrates of Edinburgh 1953 SC 34 Davis v Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 171 ALR 654; [2000] FCA 44 Elfic Ltd v Macks [2003] 2 Qd R 125; [2001] QCA 219 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Haxton (2012) 246 CLR 498; [2012] HCA 7 EWC Payments Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2014] VSC 207 Ex parte Dally-Watkins; Re Wilson (1955) 72 WN (NSW) 454 Fiona Trust & Holding Corporation v Privalov [2010] EWHC 3199 (Comm) Gawne v Gawne [1979] 2 NSWLR 449 Goodridge v Macquarie Bank Limited (2010) 265 ALR 170; [2010] FCA 67 Holt v Heatherfield Trust Ltd [1942] 2 KB 1 Honeysett v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 122; [2014] HCA 29 In Re H (Minors) [1996] AC 563 In the matter of Colorado Products Pty Ltd (in prov liq) (2014) 101 ACSR 233; [2014] NSWSC 789 Jeans v Cleary [2006] NSWSC 647 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Mateljan v HTT Huntley Heritage Pty Ltd (2016) 111 ACSR 277; [2016] NSWCA 20 McGlen-McLeod v Galloway [2012] NSWCA 368 Mearns v Australian Litigation Fund Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 81 Monk v Australia and New Zealand Bank Group Ltd (1994) 34 NSWLR 148 National Mutual Property Services (Australia) Pty Ltd v Citibank Savings Ltd (1995) 132 ALR 514 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449; [1992] HCA 66 Nguyen v Cosmopolitan Homes [2008] NSWCA 246 Nina Kung v Wang Din Shin [2005] HKCFA 54 Onassis v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyd's Rep 403 Pora v The Queen [2016] 1 NZLR 277; [2015] UKPC 9 Porter v Bonarrigo [2009] VSC 500 Poulton v The Commonwealth (1953) 89 CLR 540; [1953] HCA 101 Project 28 Pty Ltd (Formerly Narui Gold Coast Pty Ltd) v Barr [2005] NSWCA 240 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 Queenfield Pty Ltd v Gordon Finance Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 282 R on the application of SS (Sri Lanka) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWCA Civ 1391 R v Browne-Kerr [1990] VR 78 Rockcote Enterprises Pty Ltd v FS Architects Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 39 Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd v Ostwald Bros Pty Ltd (In liquidation) (2019) 99 NSWLR 317; [2019] NSWCA 11 South Australia v McKendrick Ahern Pty Ltd (Supreme Court (SA), 9 December 1997, unrep) Telfer v Telfer (2014) 87 NSWLR 176; [2014] NSWCA 186 Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd [2011] EWHC 1884 (QB) Trendtex Trading Corporation v Credit Suisse [1982] AC 679 Vella v Permanent Mortgages Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 505 Warner v Hung, in the matter of Bellpac Pty Limited (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (In Liquidation) (No 2) (2011) 297 ALR 56; [2011] FCA 1123 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 West v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1981) 148 CLR 62; [1981] HCA 38 WorkCover Queensland v Amaca Pty Limited [2013] 2 Qd R 276; [2012] QCA 240 Texts Cited: David Malcolm, "To Wig or be Damned" (1988) 15(7) Brief at 8 Hodge M Malek QC (ed), Phipson on Evidence (19th ed, 2018, Sweet & Maxwell) J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (2020, LexisNexis) J D Heydon, M J Leeming, P G Turner, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed, 2014, LexisNexis Butterworths) Michael V Argyle QC, Phipson on Evidence (10th ed, 1963, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Phillip Jacob Miles (Plaintiff) Catherine Gonzales Amos (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff (self-represented) P Folino-Gallo (Defendant)