Ross v Sebek [2022] NSWSC 1300

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ross v Sebek [2022] NSWSC 1300 Hearing dates: 6-7 September 2022 Date of orders: 29 September 2022 Decision date: 29 September 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court: (1) Orders that the amended Statement of Claim filed on 11 October 2021 be dismissed. (2) Stands the matter over to a date to be fixed to determine costs. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – The deceased died leaving duly executed Will probate of which was granted to the Defendant, one of two adult children of the deceased – Plaintiff received 25 per cent share, whilst Defendant received 75 per cent share, of the deceased's estate – Clause giving power of appropriation to the executor in Will – Construction and effect of the appropriation Clause – Whether Defendant entitled to acquire the Plaintiff's interest in the estate – Whether dispute as to valuation of the property forming part of the estate – No competing valuation evidence given by the Plaintiff – Alleged difference in value of the property would have resulted in Plaintiff, on her case, being entitled to receive an additional amount less than $50,000 than the amount paid to, but not retained by, Plaintiff. Legislation Cited: Duties Act 1997 (NSW) ss 8(1), 11(1)(a), 12(1), 13, 19, 21(1), 32 and 63(1)(a)(iii) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) s 32 Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) s 46 Cases Cited: Allgood v Blake (1873) LR 8 Ex 160 ANZ Executors & Trustee Co Ltd v McNab [1999] 3 VR 666 Bluemine Pty Ltd (in liq) v AKA (Civil) Pty Ltd; Earth Civil Australia Pty Ltd (in liq) v AKA (Civil) Pty Ltd; Diamondwish Pty Ltd (in liq) v Ivana Cassaniti; Rackforce Pty Ltd (in liq) v Ivana Cassaniti; RCG CBD Pty Limited (in liq) v Borg Family Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 160 Byrne v Macquarie Group Services Australia Pty Ltd [2011] HCASL 167 Byrne v Macquarie Group Services Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 68 Byrnes v Kendle (2011) 243 CLR 253; [2011] HCA 26 Carol Boian; Re Estate of Dan Antonio Boian (2014) 17 BPR 33,005; [2014] NSWSC 800 Carr v Carr (1987) 8 NSWLR 492 Chant v Curcuruto; Chant v Curcuruto [2021] NSWSC 751 Clay v Clay (2001) 202 CLR 410; [2001] HCA 9 Commissioner of State Revenue v Hazel Holdings Pty Ltd [2014] WASCA 203 Coorey v Coorey (Supreme Court (NSW), Powell J, 22 February 1986, unrep) Estate of Aspasia Kandros [2019] NSWSC 757 Fairbairn v Varvaressos (2010) 78 NSWLR 577; [2010] NSWCA 234 Fulton v Fulton [2014] NSWSC 619 In the Estate of Gamble (1915) 32 WN (NSW) 121 Liang Pui Saw Kian v Leung Yuk Chun [2016] HKCFI 1014 Long v Comptroller of Stamps [1964] VR 796 Lystra Allison Tagliaferri as Administrator of the Estate of David Eugenio Tagliaferri v Lystra Allison Tagliaferri and Lisa Dianna Sawyer as Trustees for Hayley Beatrice Tagliaferri and Caitlyn Thelma Tagliaferri [2013] WASC 321 Manfred v Maddrell (1951) 51 SR (NSW) 95 Muir v Winn [2009] NSWSC 857 Re Estate Late Austin Mack (1956) 73 WN (NSW) 218 Re Kippling [1914] 1 Ch 62 Robinson v Collins [1975] 1 WLR 309 Spencer v The Commonwealth of Australia (1907) 5 CLR 418; [1907] HCA 82 SPIC Pacific Hydro Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2021] NSWSC 395 St John v St John [2021] NSWSC 399 Tay v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2017) 105 ATR 583; [2017] NSWSC 338 Wigley v Crozier (1909) 9 CLR 425; [1909] HCA 86 Yule v Irwin (No 2) [2016] SASC 178 Texts Cited: Encyclopaedic Australian Legal Dictionary, online ed GE Dal Pont, Law of Succession (3rd ed, 2021, LexisNexis) Williams on Wills (11th ed, 2021, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jana Ross (Plaintiff) Martina Michelle Sebek (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J E F Brown (Plaintiff) D C Price (Defendant)