HARTIGAN v INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS INCORPORATED [2002] NSWSC 810

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : HARTIGAN v INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS INCORPORATED [2002] NSWSC 810 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3328/1994 HEARING DATE(S) : 19-23/11/01; 30/11/01; 25-26/02/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 6 September 2002

PARTIES : Janet Hartigan - Plaintiff International Society for Krishna Consciousness Incorporated - Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Bryson J

J.B. Whittle SC & R. Glasson - Pltf COUNSEL : D.A. Smallbone - Dft

SOLICITORS : Mallesons Stephen Jacques - Pltf James Solicitors - Dft CATCHWORDS : FRAUD AND MISREPRESENTATION AND UNDUE INFLUENCE - undue influence - religious advisor, person in position of trust and confidence - the plaintiff claimed remedies against her donation of farm to incorporated association representing Hare Krishna Movement - farm later sold - extremely improvident gift of only substantial asset - no independent advice or influence - burden of proof on defendant - on detailed consideration of facts held that transaction was unconscionable and plaintiff awarded amount of price for which sold. LEGISLATION CITED : Associations Incorporation Act 1956-1965 (South Australia) Huguenin v. Baseley (1807) 14 Vesey Jnr 273 Allcard v. Skinner (1887) 36 ChD 145 Watkins v. Coombs (1922) 30 CLR 180 Union Fidelity Trustee Co of Australia Ltd v. Gibson [1971] VR 573 CASES CITED : Quek v. Beggs (1990) 5 BPR 11,761 Morley v. Loughlan [1893] 1 Ch. 736 Johnson v. Buttress (1936) 56 CLR 113 Bank of NSW v. Rogers (1941) 65 CLR 42 Ryan v. The Queen (2001) 75 ALJR 815 Jenyns v. The Public Curator (Queensland) (1953) 90 CLR 113 DECISION : (1) Give judgment for the plaintiff for $83,000 together with interest of $6,185 a total of $89,185; (2) Costs reserved.