Beech & Ors v Advanced Management Consultancy Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 311

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Beech & Ors v Advanced Management Consultancy Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 311 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40984/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 September 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 18 September 2002

PARTIES : Martin Conway Beech, Alexander Martin Beach, Cheryn Fae Beech, Louisa Jane Ford, Chelsey Anne Ford & Peter Michael Davis - Appellants Advanced Management Consultancy Pty Ltd - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; Einstein J at 34

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 5856/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Balla DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : J F Hassett (Solicitor) - Appellants S J Stanton - Respondent SOLICITORS : Hassett Dixon - Appellants Aitken McLachlan & Thorpe - Respondent CATCHWORDS : Whether defendants held shares on trust for plaintiff - depended on which of two competing versions of a conversation was accepted - one version preferred for stated reasons - reasons unsound - preference not warranted - new trial - no question of principle. ND Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167; CASES CITED: Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472; Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 205 CLR 434. DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Set aside judgment for plaintiff against defendants in the sum of $76,011.17 and order that the defendants pay the costs of the plaintiff; (3) Order a new trial of the plaintiff's claim against the defendants; (4) Costs of trial be costs in the new trial; (5) Respondent to pay appellants' costs of the appeal and to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise qualified.