Ip v Chiang [2021] NSWSC 822

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ip v Chiang [2021] NSWSC 822 Hearing dates: 2-5, 9-12 and 16-17 November 2020 Decision date: 06 July 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Lindsay J Decision: The deceased estate of Long Sing Ip is entitled to recover property acquired by the first defendant as a constructive trustee. Catchwords: EQUITY — Unconscionable conduct — Special disability or disadvantage — Other party's knowledge — Mental incapacity — First defendant entered into transactions and property dealings with deceased in circumstances where deceased lacked capacity — Estate entitled to recover property acquired by first defendant as a constructive trustee FAMILY LAW — Marriage — Void marriage — Consent — First defendant purportedly married deceased in circumstances where deceased was incapable of understanding the nature and effect of marriage ceremony Legislation Cited: Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 NSW Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW Family Law Act 1975 Cth Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 Cth Marriage Act 1961 Cth Powers of Attorney Act 2003 NSW Real Property Act 1900 NSW Succession Act 2006 NSW Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 NSW Cases Cited: AK v NC [2003] FamCA 1006; 32 FamLR 16; [2004] FLC 93-178 Ancient Order of Foresters in Victoria Friendly Society Ltd v Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd (2018) 265 CLR 1 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 CJ v AKJ [2015] NSWSC 498 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 David by her Tutor the Protective Commissioner v David (1993) 30 NSWLR 417 Eberstaller v Poulos [2014] NSWCA 211 Edmunds v Edmunds and Ayscough [1935] VLR 177 Ford (by his Tutor Watkinson) v Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd (2009) 75 NSWLR 42 Giumelli v Giumelli (1999) 196 CLR 101 Grace v Grace [2014] NSWCA 86 Hart v O'Connor [1985] AC 1000 Hayward v Hayward [1961] P 152 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 In the Marriage of Miller (1983) FLC 91-328; 9 FamLR 10; 49 ALR 689 Johnson v Buttress (1936) 56 CLR 113 Lampropoulos v Kolnik as Executor of Foley [2010] WASC 193 Law Society of NSW v Weaver [1977] 1 NSWLR 67 Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621 Gibbons v Wright (1954) 91 CLR 423 McLaughlin v Daily Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd (No 2) (1904) 1 CLR 243 Muschinski v Dodds (1985) 160 CLR 583 Oliver (deceased) v Oliver [2014] FamCA 57 PB v BB [2013] NSWSC 1223 PT Ltd v Maradona Pty Ltd (1992) 25 NSWLR 643 Petelin v Cullen (1975) 132 CLR 355 Phillips v Robab Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1520; (2014) 110 IPR 184 Privet v Vovk [2005] NSWSC 1258; 195 FLR 191 Protective Commissioner v D (2004) 60 NSWLR 513 Singh v Singh [2018] NSWCA 30 Thompson v Thompson [1957] P 19 Young v Lalic [2006] NSWSC 18; 197 FLR 27 Texts Cited: Meagher, Gummow and Lehane, Equity Doctrines and Remedies (5th edition, 2015) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Xiao Feng Ip as Administrator of the Estate of Lo Sing Ip, deceased First Defendant: Lisa Tsui Pen Chiang Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: J Sexton SC and KJ Young First Defendant: E Cohen