Zhang v Zhang [2022] NSWSC 924

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Zhang v Zhang [2022] NSWSC 924 Hearing dates: 20 – 22 and 30 June 2022; last submissions received 5 July 2022 Decision date: 12 July 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Meek J Decision: Judgment for the plaintiff Catchwords: LOANS – Dispute as to terms of an oral loan – when is a loan repayable – whether interest payable at agreed rates beyond repayment date for loan or pursuant to s 100 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) CONTRACT – admissibility of post-contractual conduct as evidence as to terms of oral loan or as an admission of the terms TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS – Potential transfer of cross-claim to the District Court – Obligations of legal practitioners to assist the Court to identify the jurisprudential nature of the claim and statutory provisions enabling the proposed transfer court to have jurisdiction to deal with the matter EVIDENCE – Mode of appearance at hearing – audio visual and other mode of appearance – r 31.3 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Pt 1A Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW) INTERPRETERS – Arrangements for interpreters at the hearing – Obligations of parties in relation to co-operating in respect of provision of interpreters – Obligation of parties in first instance to pay for costs of interpreter UNREPRESENTED LITIGANTS – content of procedural fairness EVIDENCE – discussion regarding practice of deponents asked to re-authenticate affidavits CROSS EXAMINATION – Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 – Discussion regarding utility of rule when examiner anticipates witness will not expressly agree or disagree with matter sought to be challenged EQUITY – whether equitable charge over property to secure payment of money EQUITABLE DEFENCES – Acquiescence – Election – Estoppel – Waiver. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58, 100 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), ss 44, 134 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 30 Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW), s 5B, Pt 1A Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 3, 21 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 28.2, 31.1, 31.3, 31.55, 31.56, 31.57, 31.58, 31.59, 31.62, 31.63, 31.64, Pt 31 Div 3, sch 7A Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adamopoulos v Olympic Airways SA (1991) 25 NSWLR 75 Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner (2008) 238 CLR 570; [2008] HCA 57 Aslan v Shehadie [1998] NSWCA 19 AWA Ltd v Radio 3XY Pty Ltd (Supreme Court (NSW), McLelland J, 21 June 1991, unrep) BC9101867 Bauskis v Liew [2013] NSWCA 297 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Cahn v Kosmin [2022] NSWSC 751 Chu v Haddad [2014] NSWSC 1720 Dairy Farmers Co-operative Milk Co Ltd v Acquilina (1963) 109 CLR 458; [1963] HCA 59 DZAAA v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2011] FMCA 434; (2011) 250 FLR 423 Falkner v Bourke (1990) 19 NSWLR 574 GPI Leisure Corp Ltd v Herdsman Investments Pty Ltd (No 3) (1990) 20 NSWLR 15 Hamod v New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 In the matter of Black Tie Holdings Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 781 Knott Investments Pty Ltd v Winnebago Industries Inc (2013) 211 FCR 449; [2013] FCAFC 59 Left Bank Investments Pty Ltd v Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Corporation [2020] NSWCA 144 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303 Mead v Watson as Liquidator for Hypec Electronics [2005] NSWCA 133 New South Wales Crime Commission v Nguyen [2018] NSWSC 1858 Ogilvie v Adams [1981] VR 1041 Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316; [1989] HCA 4 Permanent Trustee Co Ltd v Bernera Holdings Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 56 Peters v Lithgow Forge Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1185; (2011) 15 BPR 29,611 Rogers v Rogers [2020] NSWSC 392 Rogic v Samaan [2018] NSWSC 1464 Saravinovksa v Saravinovski (No 6) [2016] NSWSC 964 West v Mead [2003] NSWSC 161 Xia v Santah Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 807 Zhang v Zhang [2022] NSWSC 752 Texts Cited: Henry Thomas Banning, Statute Law of Limitation of Actions (2nd ed, 1892, Steven & Haynes) Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity, Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals (2017) M Barnett, "Mind Your Language Interpreters in Australian Immigration Proceedings" [2006] UWSLawRw 5 Practice Note SC Gen 10 Practice Note SC Gen 21 Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ran Zhang (Plaintiff) Jian jian Zhang (First Defendant / First Cross-Claimant) Jing Yang (Second Defendant / Second Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: P Reynolds (Plaintiff) Y Gao (solicitor) (First Defendant) In person (Second Defendant) Solicitors: JC Legal Practice (Plaintiff) Novolaw (First Defendant) File Number(s): 2020/332753