Lambros v Urbanlux Homes Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2021] NSWSC 1615

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lambros v Urbanlux Homes Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2021] NSWSC 1615 Hearing dates: 10 December 2021 Date of orders: 14 December 2021 Decision date: 14 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Williams J Decision: Order that the amended notice of motion seeking freezing orders and the notice of motion seeking an interim injunction are dismissed. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — application for freezing order against third parties — whether plaintiff has a good arguable case against defendants now in liquidation and bankruptcy — where there is presently no application for leave under s 500(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and/or s 58(3)(b) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) — whether the plaintiff has demonstrated a good arguable case for leave — whether the third party respondents have possession of, or control or influence over assets of the defendants — whether the plaintiff is required to and has demonstrated a good arguable case for disgorgement by a third party under s 37A of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) — where assets of one of the respondents which would be subject to the freezing order are jointly owned and joint owner was not a respondent to the motion PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — application for ex parte interim injunction — whether the proceedings raise any claim for final relief that warrants preservation of the status quo Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 58, 120, 121 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 37A Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 500 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 25.11, 25.14, 42.7 Cases Cited: Barton v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1974) 131 CLR 370 Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63, Cannane v J Cannane Pty Ltd (in liq) (1998) 192 CLR 557; [1992] HCA 26 Cardile v LED Builders Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 380; [1999] HCA 18 Finn v Carelli [2007] NSWSC 261 Frigo v Culhaci [1998] NSWCA 88 Marcolongo v Chen (2011) 242 CLR 546; [2011] HCA 3 Ninemia Maritime Corporation v Trave Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG 'The Niedersachsen' [1983] 1 WLR 1412; [1984] 1 All ER 398 Papas v Grave [2013] NSWCA 308 Patterson v BTR Engineering (Aust) Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 319 Public Trustee v Smith [2008] NSWSC 397 Rafferty v Time 2000 West Pty Ltd (No 7) [2011] FCA 405 Robmatjus Pty Ltd v Violet Home Loans Australia Pty ltd [2007] VSC 165 Saba v Plumb (2018) 97 NSWLR 278; [2018] NSWCA 60 Samimi v Seyedabadi [2013] NSWCA 279 Super Vision Resources Ltd BVI Registered No 1810534 v AC Holdings Co Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 319 Suzhou Haishun Investment Management Co Ltd v Zhao (No. 2) [2018] VSC 176 Texts Cited: D. Ong, Trusts Law in Australia (5th ed, 2018, The Federation Press) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Dr Mike Lambros (Plaintiff) Urbanlux Homes Pty Ltd (ACN 618 206 652) (in liq) (First Defendant) Michael Robert Lotz (Second Defendant) Manfred Lotz (Third Respondent) Naraic Building & Pest Inspections Pty Ltd (ACN 601 152 701) in its own right and as trustee for The Naraic Trust (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms R Gall (Plaintiff) Mr G Lancaster (Solicitor) (Third and Fourth Respondents)