Sweeney v He [2023] NSWCA 68

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sweeney v He [2023] NSWCA 68 Hearing dates: 16 February 2023 Date of orders: 18 April 2023 Decision date: 18 April 2023 Before: Ward P at [1]; Brereton JA at [168]; Mitchelmore JA at [186] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Bias rule — Actual or apprehended — Apprehended APPEALS — Procedural fairness — Failure to give reasons — Adequacy of reasons COURTS AND JUDGES — Courts — Duty to give reasons — Adequacy EQUITY – Trust and trustees – Constructive trusts – Common intention Legislation Cited: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Cases Cited: Alexandria Landfill Pty Ltd v Transport for New South Wales (2020) 103 NSWLR 479; [2020] NSWCA 165 Aloi Holdings Pty Ltd v John Nominees Pty Ltd [2019] WASC 270 Baira v RHG Mortgage Corporation Ltd [2012] NSWCA 387; (2012) 297 ALR 416 Baumgartner v Baumgartner (1985) 2 NSWLR 406 Broken Hill Cobalt Project Pty Ltd v Lord [2022] NSWCA 271 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242; [1984] HCA 81 CSR Ltd v Della Maddalena [2006] HCA 1; (2006) 80 ALJR 458 Day v SAS Trustee Corporation [2021] NSWCA 71 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472; [1993] HCA 78 DW v The Queen [2004] ACTCA 22; (2004) 150 A Crim R 139 E H Cochrane Ltd v Ministry of Transport [1987] 1 NZLR 146 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Ellis v R [2015] NSWCCA 262 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Galea v Galea (1990) 19 NSWLR 263 Hofer v The Queen [2021] HCA 36; (2021) 95 ALJR 937 Jones v National Coal Board [1957] 2 QB 55 Knaggs v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2007) 170 A Crim R 366; [2007] NSWCA 83 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28 Lemongrove Services Pty Ltd v Rilroll Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 174 McKay v Commissioner of Main Roads [2013] WASCA 135 Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls (2011) 244 CLR 427; [2011] HCA 48 Michel v The Queen [2009] UKPC 41; [2010] 1 WLR 879 Mikus v Chief of Army [2020] ADFDAT 1 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507; [2001] HCA 17 Mkari v Meza [2005] NSWCA 136 Najjar v Haines (1991) 25 NSWLR 224 Pettitt v Dunkley [1971] NSWLR 376 Queensland v Masson [2020] HCA 28; (2020) 94 ALJR 785 R v Barrowman (2007) 96 SASR 294; [2007] SASC 28 R v JAE [2021] QCA 287 R v Keyte (2000) 78 SASR 68; [2000] SASC 382 R v Power [2003] SASC 77; (2003) 141 A Crim R 203 R v T, WA (2014) 118 SASR 382; [2014] SASCFC 3 Royal Guardian Mortgage Management Pty Ltd v Nguyen [2016] NSWCA 88; (2016) 332 ALR 128 Scott v Scott [2022] NSWCA 182 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Sweeney v He (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 854 Sweeney v He [2022] NSWSC 655 Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568; [1989] HCA 44 Vines v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2007) 73 NSWLR 451; [2007] NSWCA 75 Webb v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 41; [1994] HCA 30 White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart [1998] FCA 806; (1998) 156 ALR 169 Yebdoo v Holmewood [2021] NSWCA 119 Yuill v Yuill [1945] P 15; [1945] 1 All ER 183 Texts Cited: Sir Robert Megarry, "Temptations of the Bench" (1978) 16 Alta L Rev 406 U Gautier, "Judicial Discretion to Intervene in the Course of the Trial" (1980) 23 Crim LQ 88 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Howard Sweeney (Appellant) Leah Ying He (First Respondent) Yu Xiang Wang (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: L Ang (Appellant) J Needham SC with K Boettcher (First Respondent) R Ferguson (Solicitor) (Second Respondent)