Dobrinski v Slade [2010] NSWDC 297

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Dobrinski v Slade [2010] NSWDC 297

HEARING DATE(S): 1, 2, 3 and 7 December 2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 23 December 2010

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Gibson DCJ

(1) Judgment for the plaintiff for $514,941.60. DECISION: (2) Defendant pay plaintiff's costs. (3) Note that the pre-judgment interest is agreed between the parties at $342,838.87. (4) Exhibits retained for 28 days.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT - loans made in a family situation - whether the defendant is the borrower - impact of promises to repay outstanding loans on sums borrowed outside the limitation period - whether a defence of "forgiveness" of the loans is available

LEGISLATION CITED: Limitation Act 1969, s 14

Abalos v Australian Postal Commission [1990] HCA 47; (1990) 171 CLR 167 Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardner [2008] HCA 57 Allen v Tobias (1958) 98 CLR 367 Bank of China Limited v CGS (Group) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 379 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mahommed [2010] NSWCA 335 Cordon Investments Pty Ltd v Lesdor Properties Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1073 Delany v Tenison (1758) 3 Bro PC 659 ; 1 ER 1559 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Giorginis v Kastrati (1989) Aust Torts Reports 80-233 CASES CITED: Graves v Legg (1854) 9 Exch 709 ; 156 ER 304 Gray v Haig (1854–1855) 20 Beav 219 ; 52 ER 587 NWR FM t/as North West Radio v Broadcasting Commission of Ireland [2004] IEHC 109 R v Logue (NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, 31 March 1994, Gleeson CJ, McInerney and Mathews JJ, unreported) Rosebanner Pty Ltd v Energy Australia [2009] NSWSC 43 Shepparton Projects Pty Ltd v Cave Investments Pty Ltd [2010] VSC 504 Société D'Avances Commerciales (Société Anonyme Egyptienne) v Merchants' Marine Insurance Co (The "Palitana") (1924) 20 Ll L Rep 140 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) [1999] HCA 3; (1999) 73 ALJR 306 The Nominal Defendant v Kostic [2007] NSWCA 14 The Ophelia [1916] 2 AC 206