Highfields Australia Pty Ltd v Advanced Motor Dealers Group Pty Ltd (Receiver and Manager Appointed) [2023] NSWSC 1458

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Highfields Australia Pty Ltd v Advanced Motor Dealers Group Pty Ltd (Receiver and Manager Appointed) [2023] NSWSC 1458 Hearing dates: 20–22 March 2023 Date of orders: 28 November 2023 Decision date: 28 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: Judgment for the plaintiff. Parties to bring in short minutes of order reflecting these reasons. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — formation — agreement — circumstances of conclusion of agreement — characterisation of agreement as sale or security transaction PERSONAL PROPERTY — sale of goods — passing of property — where invoices issued MORTGAGES AND SECURITIES — Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) — security interest — no security interest proven Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017 (NSW) Sale of Goods Act 1923 (NSW) Cases Cited: Atco Controls Pty Ltd (in liq) v Newtronics Pty Ltd (2009) 25 VR 411; [2009] VSCA 238 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Rich [2009] NSWSC 1229 BCI Finances Pty Ltd (in liq) v Binetter (No 4) (2016) 348 ALR 227; [2016] FCA 1351 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153; [2001] NSWCA 61 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424; [2001] FCA 1833 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Byrne v Australia Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410; [1995] HCA 24 Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242 Colyer Fehr Tallow Pty Ltd v KNZ Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 457 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins (2003) 215 CLR 317; [2003] HCA 51 Effem Foods Pty Ltd v Lake Cumbeline Pty Ltd (1999) 161 ALR 599; [1999] HCA 15 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2009) 209 CLR 95; [2002] HCA 8 Et-China.com International Holdings Ltd v Cheung (2021) 388 ALR 128; [2021] NSWCA 24 Expile Pty Ltd v Jabb's Excavations Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 163 Gamer's Motor Centre (Newcastle) Pty Ltd v Natwest Wholesale Australia Pty Ltd (1987) 163 CLR 236; [1987] HCA 30 Gatward v Alley (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 174 Havas v Standard Knitting Mills Pty Ltd (2001) 52 NSWLR 293; [2001] NSWCA 295 Hobbs v Petersham Transport Co Pty Ltd (1971) 124 CLR 220 Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 11,110 In re George Inglefield Ltd [1933] 1 Ch 1 John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 Kent v SS "Maria Luisa" (No 2) (2003) 130 SCR 12; [2003] FCAFC 93 Kreglinger v New Patagonia Meat and Cold Storage Company Ltd [1914] AC 25 Lawrence v Ciantar [2020] NSWCA 89 Masterton Homes Pty Ltd v Palm Assets Pty Ltd (2009) 261 ALR 382; [2009] NSWCA 234 Metal Manufactures Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 43 ATR 375; [1999] FCA 1712 Michael Gerson (Leasing) Ltd v Wilkinson [2001] QB 514; [2001] 1 All ER 148 RV Ward Ltd v Bignall [1967] 1 QB 534 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: Ewan McKendrick, Goode on Commercial Law (LexisNexis, 4th Ed, 2009) Norman Palmer, Palmer on Bailment (3rd ed, Thomson Reuters, 2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Highfields Australia Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Advanced Motor Dealers Group Pty Ltd (Receiver and Manager Appointed) and Shumit Banerjee (1st and 3rd Defendants) Joseph Anthony Touma (2nd Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Afshar, J Pokoney (Plaintiff) Mr P Newton SC (2nd Defendant)