Brandling v Weir [2003] NSWSC 723

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Brandling v Weir [2003] NSWSC 723 revised - 18/08/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 22/07/03, 23/07/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 August 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J DECISION : Claims of first cross-claimant dismissed. Claims of second cross-claimant upheld.

CATCHWORDS : TRUSTS AND TRUSTEES - constructive trust - properties acquired by marriage partners in separate names - all purchase moneys and mortgage payments sourced from wife's business activities - husband's relatively small contribution to domestic expenses - whether pooling of interests and joint endeavour - whether husband entitled to constructive trust on basis of departure from common intention or other unconscionability - TRUSTS AND TRUSTEES - purchase of property in name of wife alone - whether husband provided part of purchase money - whether presumption of advancement rebutted - MORTGAGES AND CHARGES - prior determination that equitable charge created by loan agreement and caveat - no ground for questioning earlier decision - prior determination cannot be impugned in these proceedings Baumgartner v Baumgartner (1987) 164 CLR 137 Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242 Carruthers v Manning [2001] NSWSC 1130 Green v Green (1989) 17 NSWLR 343 CASES CITED : Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Lloyd v Tedesco (2002) 25 WAR 360 Muschinski v Dodds (1985) 160 CLR 583 Nudd v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2002) 11 BPR 20,163 Rodick v Gandell (1852) 1 DeGM&G 763 Troncone v Aliperti (1994) 6 BPR 13,291 Paul Brandling - Plaintiff Pauline Dorothy Weir - First Defendant Vizzini Investments Pty Ltd - Second Defendant The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy - Third Defendant Trevor David Nudd - Fourth Defendant Mervyn Patrick Weir - Fifth Defendant