Neville’s Bus Service Pty Ltd v Total Group Constructions Pty Ltd (No 3) [2024] NSWSC 658

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd v Total Group Constructions Pty Ltd (No 3) [2024] NSWSC 658 Hearing dates: 23 May 2024 Date of orders: 30 May 2024 Decision date: 30 May 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Nixon J Decision: See [168]. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – interim preservation – freezing orders – application for post-judgment freezing orders made ex parte following transfer of property by Second Defendant to third party – whether basis established for freezing orders against third party – whether basis established for freezing orders against each of judgment debtors – whether reasonably arguable that Third Defendant incurred contractual liability in capacity as trustee – whether freezing orders against third party should be conditioned on giving undertaking to commence proceedings – whether freezing orders should be continued until further order or for specified period Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), s 121 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 37A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 25.14 Cases Cited: ACES Sogutlu Holdings Pty Ltd (in liq) v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2014) 89 NSWLR 209; [2014] NSWCA 402 Cannane v J Cannane Pty Ltd (in liq) (1998) 192 CLR 557; [1998] HCA 26 Cardile v LED Builders Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 380; [1999] HCA 18 Chief Commissioner of Stamp Duties v Buckle (1998) 192 CLR 226; [1998] HCA 4 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Commissioner of Taxation v Oswal (No 6) [2016] FCA 762 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Saleh [2005] NSWSC 843 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Huang (2021) 273 CLR 429; [2021] HCA 43 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Shi (2021) 273 CLR 235; [2021] HCA 22 Frigo v Culhaci [1998] NSWCA 88 Huntley Management Ltd v Timbercorp Securities Ltd (2010) 187 FCR 151; [2010] FCA 576 In the matter of Black Eagle Media Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1778 Infigo II Pty Ltd v Linmas Holdings Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 755 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Marcolongo v Chen (2011) 242 CLR 546; [2011] HCA 3 Maric v Nominal Defendant [2013] NSWCA 190 Minister for Local Government v Blue Mountains City Council [2018] NSWCA 133 Moustapha v Nelson (No 3) [2020] NSWSC 1263 Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd v Total Group Constructions Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 215 Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd v Total Group Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 393 Ninemia Maritime Corp v Trave Schiffahrtsgesellschaft GmbH & Co KG [1984] 1 All ER 398 Patterson v BTR Engineering (Aust)Pty Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 319 PT Bayan Resources TBK v BCBC Singapore Pte Ltd (2015) 258 CLR 1; [2015] HCA 36 P T Garuda Indonesia Ltd v Grellman (1992) 35 FCR 515 Republic of Haiti v Duvalier [1990] 1 QB 202 Severstal Export GmbH v Bhushan Steel Ltd (2013) 84 NSWLR 141; [2013] NSWCA 102 Super Vision Resources Ltd BVI Registered No 1810534 v AC Holdings Co Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 319 Tagget v Sexton [2009] NSWCA 91 TFML Ltd v MacarthurCook Fund Management Ltd [2013] NSWCA 291 The Owners – Strata Plan No 98970 v Capitol Property Services Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 950 Wentworth v Rogers [2004] NSWCA 340 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Total Group Constructions Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Jay Roberto Squillacioti (Second Defendant) Ronisch Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Lisa May Squillacioti (Fourth Defendant) MSL Consulting Pty Ltd (Fifth Defendant) In Struggletown Pty Ltd (Fifth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: NJ Kidd SC with J Adamopoulos (Plaintiff) D Pritchard SC (First to Fourth Defendants and Fifth Respondent)