Hurt v Freeman [2002] NSWSC 264

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Hurt v Freeman [2002] NSWSC 264 revised - 09/04/2002 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4126/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 21/08/01-23/08/01, 07/09/01, 20/09/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 April 2002

Bruce Raymond Mostyn HURT (First Plaintiff) Robert Charles Mostyn HURT (Second Plaintiff) Sally Mostyn WHITE (nee Hurt) (Third Plaintiff) PARTIES : Gina Mostyn SUTTON (nee Hurt) (Fourth Plaintiff) Andrew Bruce Mostyn HURT (Fifth Plaintiff) Eric Kenneth Mostyn HURT (Sixth Plaintiff) Robert Thomas Mostyn HURT (Seventh Plaintiff) Raymond Sydney FREEMAN (First Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Santow J

COUNSEL : J T Gleeson, SC/ R A Dick (Plaintiffs) I G Harrison, SC (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Kanjian & Company (Plaintiffs) Makinson & d'Apice (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - Unconscionability - Alleged representations preceding contract later departed from by purchaser who had earlier acquired house property at gross under-value - Vendor much older woman of whom purchaser a close friend despite 44 year age difference - Family of the vendor apply in equity for remedial constructive trust assisted by tracing into proceeds of sale of property (as reinvested) - Estoppel - Limitation period - Laches. LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) ss47 and 48 Ausotel Pty Ltd v Franklins Selfserve Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 582 Baumgartner v Baumgartner (1987) 164 CLR 137 Brady v Stapleton (1952) 88 CLR 322 Commonwealth v Verwayen 170 CLR 394 El Anjou v Dollar Land Holdings P/c [1993] Ch 717; [1994] 1 BCLC 464 (CA) Fairey v Fairey (Santow J, 14 September 1998 unreported) Guimelli v Guimelli (1999) 196 CLR 101 Hohol v Hohol [1981] VR 221 CASES CITED : Hospital Products v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Hourigan v Trustees Executors and Agency Co. Ltd (1934) 51 CLR 619 Murray's Meats Pty Ltd v Bevillesta Pty Ltd (McLelland CJ in Eq, SC(NSW) 28 October 1993 unreported) Muschinski v Dodds (1986) 160 CLR 683 Optus Productions Pty Ltd v Popwing Pty Limited (Santow J, 28 February 1995, unreported) Rasmussen v Rasmussen [1995] 1 VR 613 Stafford v Stafford (1857) 44 ER 697 Taylor v Plumer (1815) 3 M & S 562 Thwaites v Ryan [1984] VR 65 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 DECISION : paras 251 to 253