Mereniuk v Wilks [2024] NSWDC 376

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mereniuk v Wilks [2024] NSWDC 376 Hearing dates: 29-30 April, 14 June and 27 August 2024 Date of orders: 28 August 2024 Decision date: 28 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiffs. (2) The parties have liberty to bring in Short Minutes of Order reflecting the mathematically agreed total for each of the three sums claimed. (3) Interest and Costs reserved, with liberty to apply. (4) Exhibits retained until further order. Catchwords: LOAN – Defendant and his wife solicit the plaintiffs (her parents) for funds for a series of three family homes – repayments made over a lengthy period – whether a loan or a gift - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - date of accrual of cause of action based on a debt - existence of confirmation of debt and operation of s 54 of Limitation Act - proceedings commenced within limitation period Legislation Cited: Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 14, 54, 63 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 14.2 Cases Cited: AB (personal representative of the late GH) v KL [2019] EWHC 611 (QB) Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardner (2008) 238 CLR 570; [2008] HCA 57 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Delor Vue Apartments CTS 39788 [2022] HCA 38 Ashton v Pratt (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 3 Balfour v Balfour [1919] 2 KB 571 Bank of China Limited v CGS (Group) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 397 Berghan v Berghan [2017] QCA 236 Chalik v Chalik [2024] NSWSC 117 Chant v Curcuruto [2021] NSWSC 751 Chaudhary v Chaudhary [2017] NSWCA 222 Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386 Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) v Radilo Enterprises Pty Ltd (1997) 72 FCR 300 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95 Hipworth v Mahar (1952) 87 CLR 335; [1952] ALR 633 In re Compania de Electricidad de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Ltd [1980] 1 Ch 146 Nadilo v Souris [2019] NSWSC 108 Ogilvie v Adams [1981] VR 1041 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544; [1915] HCA 14 R v Logue (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 31 March 1994, Gleeson CJ, McInerney and Mathews JJ, unrep) Reeves v Reeves [2024] NSWSC 134 Sion v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2013] NSWCA 337 Svenson v Doherty [2014] NSWDC 106 Tadrous v Tadrous [2010] NSWSC 1388 Tadrous v Tadrous [2012] NSWCA 16 Teen Ranch Pty Ltd v Brown (1995) 87 IR 308 The Stage Club Ltd v Millers Hotels Pty Ltd (1981) 150 CLR 535; 38 ALR 253 Vadisanis & Vadisanis [2015] FamCA 161 Woodhouse v Woodhouse [2022] NSWCA 240 Texts Cited: G Dal Pont, Law of Limitations (2nd ed, 2021, LexisNexis) at [17.26] Productivity Commission, Wealth Transfers and their Economic Effects, (2021) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Orest Mereniuk (Plaintiff) Robyn Judith Mereniuk (Plaintiff) Matthew Leonard Wilks (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Quickenden (Plaintiffs) Mr D K Smith (Defendant)