In the matter of Tzavaras & Sons Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 359

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Tzavaras & Sons Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 359 Hearing dates: 27 – 30 July 2021; 5 – 6 August 2021 Decision date: 05 April 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the plaintiff's claims for the winding up of the first defendant with costs. 2. Order pursuant to s 66G of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) that Brian Raymond Silvia and Geoffrey Peter Granger be appointed as trustees for the sale of the property referred to in these reasons as the Maroubra Property, such transfer to be to the third defendant for no consideration but subject to the existing encumbrances. 3. Order the plaintiff to pay the third defendant's costs of the application pursuant to s 66G of the Conveyancing Act, 1919 (NSW) other than the costs (if any) of the trustees for sale appointed pursuant to order 2 (with a view to those costs being borne jointly by the plaintiff and the third defendant). Catchwords: CORPORATIONS — Oppression — Where first defendant company formed by plaintiff's deceased father and managed (following his death) by plaintiff and his two brothers — Where plaintiff alleges he was excluded from the management, business and affairs of defendant company — Where plaintiff "severed ties" with the company CORPORATIONS — Winding up — Court ordered winding up — Just and equitable — Where plaintiff alleged irremediable breakdown of relationship of quasi-partnership — Whether quasi-partnership principles applicable to company established by different persons than those who suffer a breakdown of a personal relationship LAND LAW — Co-ownership — Statutory trust for sale — Where plaintiff made part payment of the purchase price — Where plaintiff's deceased father made part payment of the purchase price — Presumption of advancement — Whether repayment of plaintiff's contribution to purchase price by second defendant amounted to purchase of plaintiff's interest in property LAND LAW — Co-ownership — Rights between co-owners — Occupation fee Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 54A, 66F, 66G Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 53, 232, 233, 234, 461, 467 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 67 Cases Cited: Amirbeaggi, in the matter of Simpkiss Pty Ltd (in liq) [2018] FCA 2121 Amit Laundry Pty Ltd v Jain [2017] NSWSC 1495 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v Storm Financial Ltd (2009) 71 ACSR 81; [2009] FCA 269 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Green Pacific Energy Ltd (2006) 59 ACSR 142; [2006] FCA 1254 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Letten (No 10) [2011] FCA 498 Backoffice Investments v Campbell (2007) 61 ACSR 144; [2007] NSWSC 161 Biviano v Natoli (1998) 43 NSWLR 695 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Burwood Council v Visy Paper Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 565 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2008) 66 ACSR 359; [2008] NSWCA 95 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304; [2009] HCA 25 Cassegrain v CTK Engineering Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 495 Cremin, in the matter of Brimson Pty Ltd (in liq) (2019) 136 ACSR 639; [2019] FCA 1023 Darrington v Caldbeck (1990) 20 NSWLR 212 Delehunt v Carmody (1986) 161 CLR 464; [1986] HCA 67 Doyle v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2005) 227 CLR 18; [2005] HCA 78 Dyer v Dyer (1788) 2 Cox Eq Cas 92 Ebrahimi v Westbourne Galleries Ltd [1973] AC 360 Ehsman v Nutectime International Pty Ltd (No 2) [2009] NSWSC 1096 ES Gordon Pty Ltd v Idameneo (No 123) Pty Ltd (1994) 15 ACSR 536 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd (2001) 37 ACSR 672, [2001] NSWCA 97 Fexuto v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd (1998) 28 ACSR 688; [1998] NSWSC 413 Forgeard v Shanahan (1994) 35 NSWLR 206 Foundas v Arambatzis [2020] NSWCA 479 Gartside v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1968] AC 553 Guirguis v Girgis [2021] NSWCA 156 Hancock Family Memorial Foundation Ltd v Porteous (1999) 32 ACSR 124 Hughes, in the matter of Substar Holdings Pty Ltd (in liquidation) (2020) 149 ACSR 185; [2020] FCA 1863 Hunter v Organic and Natural Enterprise Group Pty Ltd (2012) 92 ACSR 183; [2012] QSC 383 Hunter v Organic and Natural Enterprise Group Pty Ltd [2013] QCA 331 In Re a Company (No 00709 of 1992); O'Neill v Phillips [1999] 2 All ER 961; [1999] UKHL 24 In the matter of AJ Roberts Removals & Storage Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1054 In the matter of Amazon Pest Control Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1568 In the matter of Catombal Investments Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 775 In the matter of Computer Room Solutions [2021] NSWSC 845 In the matter of Crow Inn Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1749 In the matter of Glenvine Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2020] NSWSC 866 In the matter of Ledir Enterprises Pty Ltd (2013) 96 ACSR 1; [2013] NSWSC 1332 In the matter of Matrix Global Investment Group Sydney Pty Ltd (ACN 614 718 399) [2021] NSWSC 80 In the matter of Scientific Management Associates Pty Ltd (2019) 141 ACSR 115; [2019] NSWSC 1643 John J Starr (Real Estate) Pty Ltd v Robert R Andrew (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1991) 6 ACSR 63; (1991) 9 ACLC 1,372 Leigh v Dickeson (1884) 15 QBD 60 Luke v Luke (1936) SR (NSW) 310 Martin v Australian Squash Club Pty Ltd (1996) 14 ACLC 452 McMillan v Toledo Enterprises International Pty Ltd (1995) 18 ACSR 603 Morgan v 45 Flers Avenue Pty Ltd (1986) 10 ACLR 692 Munstermann v Rayward [2017] NSWSC 133 Napier v Public Trustee (WA) (1980) 32 ALR 153 Nassar v Innovative Precasters Group Pty Ltd (2009) 71 ACSR 343; [2009] NSWSC 342 Nelson v Nelson (1995) 184 CLR 538; [1995] HCA 25 Nullagine Investments Pty Ltd v Western Australia Club Inc (1993) 177 CLR 635; [1993] HCA 45 Re Dernacourt Investments (1990) 20 NSWLR 588 Re Straw Products Pty Ltd [1942] VLR 222; [1942] ALR 361 Roberts v Walter Developments Pty Limited (1997) 15 ACLC 882 Ryan v Dries (2002) 10 BPR 19,497; [2002] NSWCA 3 Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd v Meyer [1959] AC 324 Shelton v National Roads and Motorists Association Ltd (2004) 51 ACSR 278; [2004] FCA 1393 Snell v Glatis (No 2) [2020] NSWCA 166 Thomas v HW Thomas Ltd (1984) 2 ACLC 610; [1984] 1 NZLR 686 Thomas v McKay Investments Pty Ltd (1996) 22 ACSR 294 Tomanovic v Argyle HQ Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 152 Trafalgar West Investments Pty Ltd v Superior Lawns Australia Pty Ltd (No 6) (2014) 102 ACSR 130; [2014] WASC 278 Vigliaroni v CPS Investment Holdings Pty Ltd (2009) 74 ACSR 282; [2009] VSC 428 Wayde v NSW Rugby League Ltd (1985) 180 CLR 459; [1985] HCA 68 Williams v Legg (1993) 29 NSWLR 687 Woodson (Sales) Pty Ltd v Woodson (Aust) Pty Ltd (1996) 7 BPR 14,685 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming, PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed, LexisNexis, 2014) Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Tzavaras (Plaintiff) Tzavaras & Sons (First Defendant) William Tzavaras (Second Defendant) Peter Tzavaras (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Baird (Plaintiff) JC Kelly SC with Mr L Katsinas (Defendants)