Maxwell v Maxwell [2022] NSWSC 1028

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Maxwell v Maxwell [2022] NSWSC 1028 Hearing dates: 14 – 15 March 2022 Date of orders: 3 August 2022 Decision date: 03 August 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward P Decision: 1. Dismiss the plaintiffs' claims in the amended statement of claim. 2. Note the parties' agreement that, of the 700 ounces of gold in the first defendant's custody as at the date of the deceased's death, 255 ounces were held beneficially by the second cross-claimant (Plassey Pty Ltd). 3. Order that, unless the first defendant has already delivered 255 ounces of the gold bullion held by her to Plassey Pty Ltd, there be delivery up to Plassey Pty Ltd by the first defendant within 7 days of that amount of the gold bullion held by the first defendant. 4. Direct the parties to file written submissions on costs within 21 days with a view to costs being determined on the papers. Catchwords: PERSONAL PROPERTY – Gifts – Perfection of gifts inter vivos – Intention to make gift – Intention to accept gift – Presumption of assent – Capacity to make gift – Disclaimer by donee ESTOPPEL – Proprietary estoppel – Encouragement – Detrimental reliance Cases Cited: Alderson v Peel (1891) 7 TLR 418 Cochrane v Moore (1890) 25 QBD 57 Commissioner of Taxation v Carter (2022) 399 ALR 521; [2022] HCA 10 Corin v Patton (1990) 169 CLR 540; [1990] HCA 12 Dewar v Dewar [1975] 1 WLR 1532; 2 All ER 728 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2021] HCA 22 Gibbons v Wright (1954) 91 CLR 423; [1954] HCA 17 Hill v Wilson (1873) LR 8 Ch App 888 Horsley v Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers Pty Ltd [1995] NSWSC 78 Howard v Fingall [1853] 22 LTOS 12 In re Stoneham; Stoneham v Stoneham [1919] 1 Ch 149 In Re Stratton's Disclaimer [1958] Ch 42 London and County Banking Co Ltd v London and River Plate Bank (1888) 21 QBD 535 Matthews v Matthews (1913) 17 CLR 8; [1913] HCA 49 Nolan v Nolan (2003) 10 VR 627; [2003] VSC 121 Pape v Commissioner of Taxation (2009) 238 CLR 1; [2009] HCA 23 Perochinsky v Kirschner (2013) 16 BPR 31,481; [2013] NSWSC 400 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544 Polistena v Mitton; Agnew v Mitton [2011] NSWSC 931 Re Evans [1946] St R Qd 20 Re Goldcorp Exchange Ltd [1995] 1 AC 74 Re London Wine Co (Shippers) Ltd [1986] PCC 121 Rowland v Stevenson [2005] NSWSC 325 Scott v Bridge [2020] EWHC 3116 (Ch) Scott v Scott (2012) 7 ASTLR 299; [2012] NSWSC 1541 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505; [2014] HCA 19 Siggers v Evans (1855) 5 EL&BL 367; 119 ER 518 Standing v Bowring (1885) 31 Ch D 282 Szozda v Szozda [2010] NSWSC 804 Thomas v The Times Book Co Ltd [1966] 2 All ER 241 Thompson v Leach (1690) 2 Vent 198 Townson v Tickell (1819) 3 B & Ald 31; 106 ER 575 White v Shortall (2006) 68 NSWLR 650; [2006] NSWSC 1379 Texts Cited: M J Beazley, P T Vout and S E Fitzgerald, Appeals and Appellate Courts in Australia and New Zealand (2014, Lexis Nexis Butterworths) Thornley, "Transfer of Choses in Possession between Members of a Common Household" (1953) 11 Cambridge Law Journal 355 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Marius Maxwell (First Plaintiff) Ian Howard Maxwell (Second Plaintiff) Jamila Frances Maxwell (First Defendant) Plassey Pty Limited (Cross-claimant on second cross-claim) Representation: Counsel: NA Confos (Plaintiffs) N Bilinsky (Defendant)