Freeman v Brown [2001] NSWSC 1028

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Freeman v Brown [2001] NSWSC 1028 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 1595/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 28/06/01, 29/10/01, 30/10/01, 31/10/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 December 2001

PARTIES : Keith Edward Freeman by his tutor the Protective Commissioner of NSW - Plaintiff Peter Brown - Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

COUNSEL : Mr C.G. Grant - Plaintiff Mr V. Stefano - Defendant SOLICITORS : Connery & Partners - Plaintiff Stormers Solicitors - Defendant CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - Undue influence - unconscionable dealing - intervention by equity even though consideration adequate and affected party gave consent - party affected by significant intellectual impairment, social dysfunction and alcoholism - other party's knowledge thereof - features of transaction and circumstances from which disability must have been realised - EQUITY - remedies - restitution - gain realised by perpetrator of equitable wrong must be restored to victim - certain counter-balancing benefits and detriments may lie where they fall - CONTRACTS - harsh and unconscionable contracts and statutory remedies - contract measured against each relevant statutory criterion and against combination LEGISLATION CITED : Contracts Review Act 1980 Alati v Kruger (1955) 94 CLR 216 Amcor Ltd v Watson (2000) Aust Contract R 90-110 Baburin v Baburin [1990] 2 Qd R 101 Baltic Shipping Company v Dillon (1991) 22 NSWLR 1 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 CASES CITED : Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Ferrari Investments (Townsville) Pty Ltd v Ferrari [2000] 2 Qd R 359 Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621 Maguire v Makaronis (1997) 188 CLR 449 Quek v Beggs (1990) 5 BPR 11,761 Spencer v The Commonwealth (1907) 5 CLR 418 United States Surgical Corporation v Hospital Products Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 157 DECISION : Refer paragraphs 87 and 88