Dogra v Dogra (No 4) [2024] NSWCA 259

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dogra v Dogra (No 4) [2024] NSWCA 259 Hearing dates: 16 September 2024 Date of orders: 31 October 2024 Decision date: 31 October 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Ward P at [2]; Payne JA at [3] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed; (2) Appellant (Aruna) and second respondent (Kapil) to pay the first respondent's (Mamta's) costs of the appeal; (3) Cross-appeal dismissed; (4) Cross-appellant (Kapil) to pay the second cross-respondent's (Mamta's) costs of the cross-appeal; (5) There be no order for costs of the appeal or the cross-appeal as between the appellant and first cross-respondent (Aruna) and the cross-appellant and second respondent (Kapil). Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY — Claim to beneficial interest in land registered under the Real Property Act 1900 NSW — where primary judge made extensive credit findings — where documentary evidence inconsistent with alleged entitlement — whether primary judge entitled to draw Jones v Dunkel inference — where parties financially interdependent EVIDENCE — Credibility evidence — Cross-examination — collateral issue — where primary judge refused cross-examination — whether collateral issue substantially affected credit APPEALS — From finding of fact — Admission of further evidence — Evidence not available at hearing — informal applications — application refused Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 56 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 102, 103 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amaca Pty Limited (Under NSW Administered Winding Up) v Roseanne Cleary as the Legal Personal Representative of the Estate of the Late Fortunato (aka Frank) Gatt [2022] NSWCA 151 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Crackin' Snack Pty Ltd v Gameking Australia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 182 Dogra v Dogra [2023] NSWSC 1642 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Ghosh v Medical Council of NSW [2020] NSWCA 122 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic (2006) 66 NSWLR 186; [2006] NSWCA 187 Jones v Dunkel (1959) CLR 289 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aruna Dogra (appellant/first cross-respondent) Mamta Dogra (first respondent/second cross-respondent) Kapil Dogra (second respondent/cross-appellant) Representation: Counsel: C D Freeman (appellant/first cross-respondent) D O'Dea (first respondent/second cross-respondent) S Golledge SC (second respondent/cross-appellant)