Woodhouse v Woodhouse [2022] NSWSC 204

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Woodhouse v Woodhouse [2022] NSWSC 204 Hearing dates: 28 June to 2 July 2021 Date of orders: 4 March 2022 Decision date: 04 March 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the statement of claim. 2. Judgment for the cross-claimant on the cross-claim against the first cross-defendant in the sum of $119,737.13 by way of equitable compensation for breach of fiduciary duty plus interest thereon as claimed. 3. Judgment to the cross-claimant on the cross-claim against the second cross-defendant for repayment of all moneys paid pursuant to the agreement for transfer of the 215 Acres (as defined), plus interest thereon as claimed, but dismiss claim for specific performance. Catchwords: EQUITY – Fiduciary duties – Breach – Whether fiduciary authorised to withdraw sums in question CONTRACT – Existence of agreement – Authorisation by agent – Whether agreement enforceable per s 54A of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) – Breach – Termination – Whether specific performance available as a remedy CONTRACT – Oral agreements – Existence of agreement – Terms of the agreement – Whether the loan under the alleged agreement repayable on demand LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – Whether payments made as interest or in repayment of the loan per s 54(2)(a)(ii) of the Limitations Act 1969 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 54A Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 14(a), 24(2), 54(1), 54(2)(a), 54(2)(b) Cases Cited: Asset Risk Management v Hyndes [1999] NSWCA 201 Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited v Widin (1990) 102 ALR 289 Barclays Bank Ltd v Quistclose Investments Ltd [1970] AC 567; [1968] 3 All ER 651 Barkley v Barley Brown [2009] NSWSC 76 Cameron (as Executrix of the Will of Alexander Donald Robert Gordon Cameron (Dec)) v Murdoch (as Administratrix of the Estate of James Cameron (Dec)) [2003] WASC 264 Chethams v Remington & Co [1999] 3 VR 258; [1999] VSC 150 Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386 De Leuil v Jeremy (1964) 65 SR (NSW) 137 DTR Nominees Pty Limited v Mona Homes Pty Limited (1978) 138 CLR 423 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 Faraday v Rappaport [2007] NSWSC 34 George v Webb [2011] NSWSC 1608 Good v Parry [1963] 2 QB 418 Grimaldi v Chameleon Mining NL (No.2) (2012) 200 FCR 296 Haller v Ayre [2005] 2 Qd R 410 Hasler v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (2014) 87 NSWLR 609; [2014] NSWCA 266 Heppingstone v Stewart (1910) 12 CLR 126 Hospital Products Limited v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Howard Smith & Co Ltd v Varawa (1907) 5 CLR 68 In re Coomber [1911] 1 Ch 723 King v Poggioli (1923) 32 CLR 222 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61 Lord Chedworth v Edwards (1802) 8 Ves Jr 46; 32 ER 268 Maddison v Alderson (1883) 8 App Cas 467 McBride v Sandland (1918) 25 CLR 69 Mehmet v Benson (1965) 113 CLR 295 Morphett v Jones (1 Sw 181) O'Young v Walter Reid and Co (1932) 47 CLR 497 Ogilvie v Adams [1981] VR 1041 Pearse v Green (1819) 1 Jac & W 135 at 140; 37 ER 327 Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company v Johnson [1937-1938] 60 CLR 189 Pipikos v Trayans [2016] SASCFC 138; 126 SASR 436 Pipikos v Trayans [2018] HCA 39 Public Trustee (NSW) v Gavel (1927) 40 CLR 169 Radoman Pty Limited v Vexapu Ply Limited (2008) 13 BPR 24,903; [2008] NSWSC 8 Re Earth Civil Australia Australia Pty Ltd (in liq) [2021] NSWSC 966 Regent v Millett (1976) 133 CLR 679 Reuss v Picksley (1866) LR 1 Exch 342 Sagacious Procurement Pty Ltd v Symbion Health Ltd (formerly Mayne Group Ltd) [2008] NSWCA 149 Stage Club Ltd v Miller Hotels Pty Ltd (1981) 150 CLR 535; [1981] HCA 71 Surrendra Overseas Ltd v Government of Sri Lanka (The Apjakash) [1977] 2 All ER 481 Thompson v Mcinnes (1911) 12 CLR 562 Timmins v Moreland Street Property Co Limited [1958] Ch 110 Torok v Becker [2020] NSWSC 1570 Tramways Advertising Pty Limited v Luna Park (NSW) Limited (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 632 Tropeano v Riboni [2005] VSC 229 Tweddell v Henderson [1975] 1 WLR 1496; 2 All ER 1096 VL Finance Pty Ltd v Legudi [2003] VSC 57; (2003) 54 ATR 221 Warman International Limited v Dwyer (1995) 182 CLR 544 at 559; [1995] HCA 18 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Woden Squash Coutts Ply Limited v Zero Builders Ply Limited [1976] 2 NSWLR 212 Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Co of Europe Ltd v Orion Marine Insurance Underwriting Ltd [1995] QB 174 Young v Queensland Trustees Ltd (1956) 99 CLR 560 Texts Cited: Carter and Harland, Contract Law in Australia (3rd ed, Lexis Nexis) Fry, Specific Performance (6th ed) Graw S, An Introduction to the Law of Contract (2nd ed) Meagher Gummow & Lehane, Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed, 2015, Lexis Nexis) Snells, Principles of Equity (28th ed) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Nicolas Mary Woodhouse (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Philip George Woodhouse (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Lincoln James Kennedy and David Andrew Woodhouse as Executors of the estate of the late Catherine Woodhouse (Second Cross-Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Mack (Plaintiff) A Crossland and A Djukanovic (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) SV Shepherd (2nd Cross-Defendant)