Re Estate Soulos [2022] NSWSC 1507

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Re Estate Soulos [2022] NSWSC 1507 Hearing dates: 5-9, 12 and 15-16 September 2022 Decision date: 07 November 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Lindsay J Decision: Findings made in support of orders to be made in an oppression suit and in a variety of other proceedings. The form of orders to be made is to be the subject of further submissions. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS — Members' rights and remedies — Oppression — Where conduct is oppressive to, unfairly prejudicial to, or unfairly discriminatory against minority – Where conduct is contrary to the interests of the members as a whole – Directors engaged in conduct with total disregard to the interests of another shareholder – Oppression found SUCCESSION — Family provision — Claims by adult children excluded from management of family company – Shares in company without commercial value in the absence of voting rights – Orders for provision moulded to facilitate participation in management Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 Cth Limitation Act 1969 NSW Probate and Administration Act 1898 NSW Succession Act 2006 NSW Cases Cited: Australian Institute of Fitness Pty Ltd v Australian Institute of Fitness (Vic/Tas) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1639 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Maxwell [2006] NSWSC 1052; 59 ACSR 373; 24 ACLC 1308 Bassett v Bassett [2021] NSWCA 320 Devereaux-Warnes v Hall (No 3) (2007) 35 WAR 127 Delaforce v Simpson-Cook (2010) 78 NSWLR 483 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 97; (2001) 37 ACSR 672 Hedman v Frazer [2013] NSWSC 1915 In the matter of Computer Room Solutions Pty Limited [2021] NSWSC 845 In the matter of Imperium Projects Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 16 In the matter of L&B Seafood Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 100 In the matter of Ledir Enterprises Pty Ltd (2013) 96 ACSR 1; [2013] NSWSC 1332 In the matter of QB Foods Pty Limited [2021] NSWSC 1227 In the matter of Tzavaras & Sons Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 359 Levin v Clark [1962] NSWR 686 Munstermann v Rayward [2017] NSWSC 133 Parker v Auswild; Bergmuller v Auswild [2022] VSCA 8 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 17 CLR 9 Re Lowes Park Pty Ltd; Headlam v Lowes Park Pty Ltd (1994) 62 FCR 535 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505 Slack v Rogan; Palffy v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253 William Bkassini v Sonya Sarkis [2017] NSWSC 1487 Zong v Lin [2022] NSWCA 136 Category: Principal judgment Parties: (1) Case No 2018/00050908 ("the James Proceedings")