Lunn v Cardiff Coal Company (No 3) [2003] NSWSC 789

Reported Decision : 47 ACSR 79

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Lunn v Cardiff Coal Company (No 3) [2003] NSWSC 789 HEARING DATE(S) : 13/08/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 August 2003

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Corporations List JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J DECISION : Entitlement to winding up order pursuant to Companies (New South Wales) Code established

CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS - winding up - joint stock company incorporated by statute - whether body to which Div 6 of Pt XII of Companies (New South Wales) Code applies - whether body having more than 5 members - ascertaining membership where most persons on register acknowledged or presumed dead - whether relevant Code provisions continue in force - whether winding up order is in respect of matter "arising before" 1 January 1991 - necessity for facts warranting winding up to exist both before 1 January 1991 and when order made - whether plaintiff has liability making him a contributory and therefore competent applicant Cardiff Coal Company's Incorporation Act of 1863 Companies (Application of Laws) Act 1981, ss.6, 11 Companies (New South Wales) Code, Div 6 of Pt XII, ss. 363, 366(2),469, 470, 471 Companies and Securities (Interpretation and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Application of Laws Act) 1981 Companies and Securities (Interpretation and Miscellaneous Provisions) (New South Wales) Code, s.9 LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s.9 Corporations (Ancillary Provisions) Act 2001 Corporations (New South Wales) Act 1990, ss.84, 85 Corporations (Queensland) Act 1990 (Qld), s.42 Corporations (Victoria) Act 1990, s.42 Wills Probate and Administration Act 1898, s.61B(7) In re Agriculturist Cattle Insurance Co (Baird's Case) (1870) LR 5 Ch App 725 Acton Engineering Pty Ltd v Campbell (1991) 31 FCR 1 Avamure Pty Ltd v Fletcher Jones & Staff Pty Ltd (1996) 22 ACSR 256 Axon v Axon (1937) 59 CLR 395 A L Campbell & Co Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1951) 82 CLR 452 CIC Insurance Ltd v Hannan & Co Pty Ltd (2001) 38 ACSR 245 City West Water Ltd v Mr D Investments Pty Ltd (2002) 43 ACSR 622 CASES CITED : Re David Jones Mutual Aid Society (1984) 9 ACLR 130 Enterprise Sheet Metal Pty Ltd v Queensland Steel and Sheet Pty Ltd [1995] 1 QdR 511 Fencott v Muller (1983) 152 CLR 570 Lunn v Cardiff Coal Company (2002) 171 FLR 430 Lunn v Cardiff Coal Company (No 2) [2003] NSWSC 25 Matthews v Ross Nielson Investments Pty Ltd [1998] 2 QdR 255 National Australia Bank Ltd v Australian Securities Commission (1991) 4 ACSR 453 Savage v Lunn (unreported, NSWCA, 9 March 1998) PARTIES : William Herbert Lunn - Plaintiff The Cardiff Coal Company - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5095/02 COUNSEL : Mr B.W. Rayment QC/Mr M.A. Ashurst - Plaintiff SOLICITORS : Hewitts Commercial Lawyers - Plaintiff