Collins v McGain & Anor [2002] NSWSC 740

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Collins v McGain & Anor [2002] NSWSC 740 revised - 28/08/2002 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2403/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 12/08/02,13/08/02,14/08/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 August 2002

PARTIES : David John Collins - Plaintiff Beverley Ann McGain & Lloyd Mead - Defendants JUDGMENT OF : Acting Master Berecry

COUNSEL : T Hodgson (Plaintiff) R Darke S.C. (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Harris & Compant Solicitors (Plaintiff) Lane & Lane (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : Purpose of the Act - divesting assets by gift - - maintenance of lavish lifestyle - spouses assets to be considered - absence of evidence supporting plaintiff's needs - long estrangement from deceased - - moral right. LEGISLATION CITED : Family Provision Act, 1982 (NSW) Testator's Family Maintenance and Guardianship of Infants Act 1916 (NSW) Stuart v McDougall (unreported NSWSC 19.11.87) Singer v Berghouse (No 2) (1994) 181 CLR 201 Daly v Smith (unreported) NSWSC 25 May 1994 Blore v Lang (1960) 104 CLR 124 at 137 Bosch v the Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd (1938) AC 463 at 477 CASES CITED : Cooper v Dungan (1976) 50 ALJR 539 at 542 Cook v Cook (unreported NSWCA 14.10.97) Caska v Caska (1989) NSWSC 289 at [33] Eggler v Mitchelmore (unreported NSWCA 11.11.92) Moratelli v Westhoff (unreported 2000 NSWSC 279 Shearer and the Public Trustee; Hawke and the Public Trustee (unreported BC 9801169 Young J 23 March 1998) DECISION : 1.The proceedings be dismissed and the plaintiff pay the defendant's costs