Hellenic Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Makaritis [2025] NSWCA 13

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hellenic Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Makaritis [2025] NSWCA 13 Hearing dates: 25 September 2024 Date of orders: 14 February 2025 Decision date: 14 February 2025 Before: Mitchelmore JA at [1]; Basten AJA at [111]; Griffiths AJA at [116] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) The appellant is to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: EQUITY – trusts and trustees – constructive trusts – property owned by respondent sold to the appellant trustee company controlled by respondent's son – whether joint endeavour between respondent and son pursuant to which respondent could continue to reside at property after sale – where following sale respondent provided funds to cover costs associated with property and renovations – application of principles in Baumgartner v Baumgartner (1987) 164 CLR 137; [1987] HCA 59 – challenges to findings as to existence of joint endeavour and end of joint endeavour without attributable blame of respondent EQUITY – remedies – constructive trust on basis of failed joint endeavour – constructive trust for sale of property and division of net proceeds – form of declaration – return of contributions – sharing of surplus Legislation Cited: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Baumgartner v Baumgartner (1987) 164 CLR 137; [1987] HCA 59 Driclad Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1968) 121 CLR 45; [1968] HCA 91 Kramer v Stone (2023) 112 NSWLR 564; [2023] NSWCA 270 McGuirk v University of New South Wales (2009) 75 NSWLR 224; [2009] NSWCA 321 McKay v McKay [2008] NSWSC 177 McKinlay v Woods [2024] NSWCA 122 McNab v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2021) 106 NSWLR 430; [2021] NSWCA 298 Muschinski v Dodds (1985) 160 CLR 583; [1985] HCA 78 NSW Trustee and Guardian v Togias (2022) 110 NSWLR 86; [2022] NSWCA 225 Pavlis v Pavlis [2022] NSWCA 281 Willis v Western Australia (No 3) [2010] WASCA 56; 4 ASTLR 359 Woods v McKinlay (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 1510 Zhang v Metcalf [2020] NSWCA 228 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hellenic Property Holdings Pty Ltd ACN 632 448 241 (Appellant) Bill Makaritis (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Condon (Appellant) J Mack/B Smith (Respondent)