Norris (a pseudonym) v Brooks (a pseudonym) [2022] NSWSC 804

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Norris (a pseudonym) v Brooks (a pseudonym) [2022] NSWSC 804 Hearing dates: [Hearing dates redacted] Date of orders: 29 September 2022 Decision date: 17 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Robb J Decision: See pars 532 to 539 below Catchwords: FAMILY LAW — property — marriage — adjustment of property interests — allegations of family violence against wife and parties' children by husband — Court satisfied that husband committed serious acts of family violence from time to time — allegations of sexual abuse of parties' children by husband — acquittal of husband on criminal charges in respect of alleged sexual abuse — Court not satisfied that husband committed sexual abuse of parties' children — effect of wife's belief in allegations of sexual abuse against parties' children on wife's post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic depression — parties' children are persons with disability — whether just and equitable to make order — adjustment ordered in proportions of 52.5% as to wife and 47.5% as to husband FAMILY LAW — property — marriage — contributions — extensive history of dealings in real property in parties' respective names — wife's father exerts pressure on husband to transfer 80 percent interest in parcel of land to discretionary trust for benefit of wife and parties' children — consideration of transfer in determining whether just and equitable to make order — consideration of transfer in determining contributions to children of the marriage — substantial contributions of parties' respective families — Kennon principle applicable to effect of family violence on wife's contributions EVIDENCE — standard of proof — civil cases — credit of both plaintiff and defendant in doubt — whether principles concerning proof of facts and credibility of evidence differ between New South Wales courts and Federal courts — whether correct to follow Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 in light of uniform Evidence Acts, s 140 Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 66G Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 192G, 307A, 562ZY Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 140 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), ss 4, 4AB, 75, 79, 117 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (NSW), s 5 Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW), s 32 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), ss 59, 60 Trustee Act 1925 (NSW), s 63 Cases Cited: Bainey & Bainey [2020] FCCA 1292 Benson v Drury (2020) 62 Fam LR 1; [2020] FamCAFC 303 Bevan v Bevan (2014) 51 Fam LR 363; [2014] FamCAFC 19 Boseman & Boseman [2020] FCCA 1470 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Drury & Benson (No 2) [2020] FCCA 250 Giunta & Giunta (No 3) [2021] FamCA 272 Halsey & Jacombs [2020] FCCA 136 In the Marriage of Ferraro (1992) 16 Fam LR 1 In the Marriage of Kennon (1997) 22 Fam LR 1 In the Marriage of Kessey (1994) 18 Fam LR 149 Johnson & Page [2007] FamCA 1235 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Keating v Keating (2019) 59 Fam LR 58; [2019] FamCAFC 46 Mabb v Mabb (2020) 60 Fam LR 299; [2020] FamCAFC 18 Mallet v Mallet (1984) 156 CLR 605; [1984] HCA 21 Metzer & Metzer [2020] FCCA 119 Mynatt v Siddall [2020] FCCA 40 Nathan & Weston [2020] FamCA 541 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd [1992] HCA 66; (1992) 67 ALJR 170 Norman & Norman [2010] FamCAFC 66 Palin & Palin [2020] FCCA 701 Palumbo & Mandel [2019] FamCAFC 228 Pavlis v Pavlis [2021] NSWSC 1117 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gama (2008) 167 FCR 537; [2008] FCAFC 69 Rowse & Gouker [2020] FCCA 3163 Roy & Yalden [2020] FamCA 1026 Norris v Norris (s 66G Proceedings) [2021] NSWSC 1676 Spagnardi v Spagnardi [2003] FamCA 905 Stanford v Stanford (2012) 247 CLR 108; [2012] HCA 52 Trevi & Trevi [2018] FamCAFC 173 Wassell v Ken Carr Bobcat & Tipper Hire Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1415 Warner & Pellin [2020] FCCA 1175 Category: Principal judgment Parties: [Max Norris] (Plaintiff) [Rachel Brooks] (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Bennett (Plaintiff) R Druitt (Defendant)