Fitzgerald v The Valley Centre for Environmental Education & Research Inc [2021] NSWSC 217

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Fitzgerald v The Valley Centre for Environmental Education & Research Inc [2021] NSWSC 217 Hearing dates: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 March 2021 Date of orders: 8 March 2021 Decision date: 08 March 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Parker J Decision: See [104]-[105] Catchwords: CONTRACTS – formation – agreement – loan to incorporated association by founder and office-bearer – loan initially unsecured but shown in later financial statement as secured – whether evidence sufficient to infer agreement by association to grant security ESTOPPEL – promissory estoppel – whether financial statement a representation by association – reliance – detriment – statute of frauds LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – debt – extension of limitation period by confirmation – acknowledgement in financial statement – extension operates from date specified in statement not date of adoption Legislation Cited: Associations Incorporation Act 1984 (NSW) Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 54A Cases Cited: Ace Insurance SA-NV v Seechurn [2002] 2 Lloyd's Rep 390; EWCA Civ 67 Elzamtar v Bangladesh Islamic Centre of NSW Inc [2020] NSWSC 1161 Fischer v Nemeske Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 6 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Powercell Pty Ltd v Cuzeno Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 51 Re Candy-Vend Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1735 Stage Club Ltd v Millers Hotels Pty Ltd (1981) 150 CLR 535 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Amba Margeurite Fitzgerald (Plaintiff) The Valley Centre for Environmental Education & Research Incorporated Y1767941 (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Justice/R Boyd (Plaintiff) J Anderson (Defendant)