Tse v Ngo [2025] NSWSC 117

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tse v Ngo [2025] NSWSC 117 Hearing dates: 16 – 18 December 2024 Date of orders: 28 February 2025 Decision date: 28 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Rees J Decision: Declarations as to existence and dissolution of partnership, partnership assets. Catchwords: PARTNERSHIPS AND JOINT VENTURES – business importing car accessories from China for sale in Australia by online e-commerce stores – multilingual "cooperation" contract – whether a partnership, joint venture or agency – characteristics at [146]-[152] – relevance of post contractual conduct at [5]. CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST – partnership leases warehouse – partner buys warehouse but fails to disclose his ownership to fellow partners – whether warehouse is partnership property – partner's duties at [167]-[173] – whether partner entitled to recompense for contribution to acquisition of warehouse – principles at [177]-[178]. Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) s 58(3)(b) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140(2) Partnership Act 1892 (NSW) s 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20(1), 24(1)(1), 29 Cases Cited: Aberdeen Railway Co v Blaikie Brothers (1854) 1 Macq 461 Ace Insurance Ltd v Moose Enterprise Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 724 Ambridge Investments Pty Limited (in liq) (receiver appointed) v Baker [2010] VSC 59 Ancient Order of Foresters in Victoria Friendly Society Limited v Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Limited (2018) 265 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 43 Aucare Dairy (Aust) Pty Ltd v Huang (No 3) [2019] FCA 412; 135 ACSR 450 Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 604 Bant v Bant [2003] WASC 137 Bassett v Cameron [2021] NSWSC 207 Birtchnell v Equity Trustees, Executors & Agency Co Ltd (1929) 42 CLR 384; [1929] HCA 24 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] FCA 1833; 2001 FCR 424 Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chan v Zacharia (1984) 154 CLR 178 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v O'Donoghue [2022] WASC 153 FAI General Insurance Co Ltd v Ocean Marine Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association Ltd (1997) 41 NSWLR 117 Fazio v Fazio [2012] WASCA 72 Fragar v Fragar [2024] NSWSC 193 Gerovich v Gerovich (as executor of the estate of Gerovich) [2018] WASC 153 Gibson Motorsport Merchandise Pty Limited v Forbes [2005] FCA 749 Harvey v Harvey (1970) 120 CLR 529; [1970] HCA 11 Huntington Copper Co v Henderson (1877) 4 R 294 JR Consulting & Drafting Pty Ltd v Cummings (2016) 239 ALR 625; [2016] FCAFC 20 Kelly v Kelly (1990) 92 ALR 74 Kriketos v Livschitz [2009] NSWCA 96 Lucas v Lucas [1962] Qd R 205 Mao v Bao (2023) 113 NSWLR 26; [2023] NSWCA 278 McKensey v Hewitt (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 15 October 1997, unrep) Miles v Clarke [1953] 1 All ER 779 Neville v Lam (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 607 O'Brien v Komesaroff (1982) 150 CLR 310; (1980) 41 ALR 255 Pola, Leo Vincent & Ors v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1997] FCA 1476, 12-13. Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver [1967] 2 AC 134 Ryan v Starr [2005] NSWSC 170 Scott v Davis [2000] HCA 52; 204 CLR 333 TX Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2020] FCA 1100; (2020) 147 ACSR 201 United Dominions Corporation Ltd v Brian Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 49 Williams v Nicoski [2003] WASC 131 Wright v Lemon (No 2) [2021] WASC 159 Yacoub v Commissioner of Taxation (2012) 292 ALR 128; [2012] FCA 678 Texts Cited: Graw, Stephen, An Outline of the Law of Partnership (5th ed, 2018) Parkinson, Patrick, The Principles of Equity, (2nd ed, 2003) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gordon Tse (First Plaintiff) Tiehong Chen (Second Plaintiff) Viet Ngo (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Jacobs / V Misra (Plaintiffs)