Bar-Mordecai v Rotman & Ors [2000] NSWCA 123

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Bar-Mordecai v Rotman & Ors [2000] NSWCA 123 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40568/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 6 - 9 December 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 16 May 2000

Michael Jacob Bar-Mordecai (Appellant) PARTIES : Selma Rotman (1 Respondent) Alex Hillston (2 Respondent) Alan David James Hillston (3 Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Stein JA at 1; Giles JA at 1

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Equity Division LOWER COURT EQ 120009/94 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Einstein J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

In person (Appellant) COUNSEL : J B Whittle SC - (1/2/3 Respondents) B J Burke - (2/3 Respondents) Appellant - n/a SOLICITORS : Stewart Levitt & Co Solicitors (1 Respondent) Shaw McDonald (2/3 Respondents) CATCHWORDS : PROBATE - whether will revoked by tearing up - presumption as to revocation of will - renunciation of probate - existence of de facto relationship - revision of ex tempore judgment - bias - alleged perjury of witnesses - credibility of evidence - ND Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1898, LEGISLATION CITED : ss 17(3)(b), 32G, 61B(2), 61B(3A), 74(c)(i), 75(1)(a) Evidence Act 1995, s 128 De Facto Relationships Act 1984 Amadio Pty Ltd v Henderson (1998) 81 FLR 149 Australian Breeders Co-operative Society Ltd v Jones (1997) 150 ALR 488 Bromley v Bromley [1965] P 111 Finch v Finch (1867) LR 1 P & D 371 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 CASES CITED: Lam v Beesley (1992) 7 WAR 88 Loughnan v Altman (1992) 111 ALR 445 McCauley v McCauley (1910) 10 CLR 434 Roy v Sturgeon (1986) 11 NSWLR 454 Sudgen v Lord St Leonards (1876) LR 1 P & D 154 Taylor v Waters (Powell J, Supreme Court, 19 June 1992, unreported) Wentworth v Rares (Court of Appeal, 19 November 1990, unreported) DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs