Belan v Casey [2003] NSWSC 159

Reported Decision : 57 NSWLR 670

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Belan v Casey [2003] NSWSC 159 HEARING DATE(S) : 4/3/03-6/3/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 2 May 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Campbell J DECISION : Application for contribution between tortfeasors jointly and severally liable to pay a judgment dismissed, on basis that; (a) no right of contribution at law existed; (b) any statutory right of contribution is statute barred; (c) for all except $23,813.12, funding, by people other than the plaintiff, of payment of judgment debt meant rationale for equitable contribution did not exist; (d) even if an equity of contribution now existed between joint tortfeasors (a matter expressly not decided) it would be statute barred by analogy.

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - equitable contribution - requirement for plaintiff to have actually paid or to be about to be required to pay more than his/her share - contribution dependent on matters of substance not technicality - contribution not available when plaintiff in substance not worse off through circumstances of discharge of liability - EQUITY - equitable contribution - whether now available between joint tortfeasors - EQUITY - limitation of action - application of statutes by analogy - TORTS - THE LAW OF TORTS GENERALLY - joint or several tortfeasors - basis for contribution between joint tortfeasors - whether common law action now available for contribution between joint tortfeasors - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - contribution between tortfeasors - application of limitation period by analogy if equitable right of contribution were available between tortfeasors - CONTRACTS - whether contract entered in particular circumstances - no consideration of principle - ESTOPPEL - whether estoppel exists in particular circumstances - no consideration of principle Defamation Act 1974 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Limitation Act 1969 LEGISLATION CITED : Mercantile Law Amendment Act 1856 Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1942 Municipal Corporation Reform Act 1835 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Adamson v Jarvis (1827) 4 Bing 66; 130 ER 693 Adcock v Aarons (1903) 5 WALR 140 Albion Insurance Co Ltd v Government Insurance Office (NSW) (1969) 121 CLR 342 Arnold v Clifford (1835) 2 Sumner 238 Attorney General v Wilson (1840) Cr & Ph 1; 41 ER 389 Austral Pacific Group Limited (in liquidation) v Airservices Australia (2000) 203 CLR 136 Australian Breeders Co-operative Society Ltd v Jones (1997) 150 ALR 488 Bailey v Bailey (1884) 13 QBD 855 Betts v Gibbins (1834) 2 Ad E 37; 111 ER 22 Bonner v Tottenham & Edmonton Permanent Investment Building Society [1899] 1 QB 161 Brambles Constructions Pty Ltd v Helmers (1966) 114 CLR 213 Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 17; (2002) 76 ALJR 749 Cia de Seguros Imperio v Heath (REBX) Ltd [2001] 1 WLR 112 Cockburn v GIO Finance Ltd (No.2) (2001) 51 NSWLR 624 Colburn v Patmore (1834) 1 CM&R 73; 149 ER 999 Coulthard v Disco Mix Club Ltd (2000) 1 WLR 707 Dall v The Blue Wren Taxi Co Pty Ltd [1926] VLR 365 Davenport v Commissioner for Railways (1953) 53 SR (NSW) 552 Dering v Earl of Winchelsea (1787) 1 Cox 318; 29 ER 1184 Fightvision Pty Ltd v Onisforou (1999) 47 NSWLR 473 Genders v Government Insurance Office of NSW (1959) 102 CLR 363 Grant v Easton (1883) 13 QBD 302 CASES CITED : James Hardie & Coy Pty Limited v Seltsam Pty Limited (1998) 196 CLR 53 Jones v Mortgage Acceptance Nominees Ltd (1996) 63 FCR 418; (1996) 142 ALR 561 Knox v Gye (1872) LR5HL Re: La Rosa; ex parte Norgard v Rodpat Nominees Pty Ltd (1991) 31 FCR 83 Lingard v Bromley (1812) 1 V & B 114; 35 ER 45 London Association for Protection of Trade v Greenlands Limited [1916] 2 AC 15 Mahoney v McManus (1981) 180 CLR 370 Merryweather v Nixan (1799) 8 TR 186; 101 ER 1337 Moscati v Lawson (1835) 7 Car P 32; 173 ER 14 Palmer v Wick and Pultneytown Steam Shipping Company Limited [1894] AC 318 Pearson v Skelton (1836) 1 MW 504; 150 ER 533 R v Holbrook (1878) 4 QBD 42 R v McNeil (1922) 31 CLR 76 Shackell v Rosier (1836) 2 Bing (NC) 635; 132 ER 245 Sir Will. Harbert's Case (1584) 3 CoRep 11b; 76 ER 647 Sky Channel v Tszyu [2000] NSWSC 838 In Re Snowdon; ex parte Snowdon (1881) 17 Ch D 44 State of Victoria v Hansen [1960] VR 582 The Englishman and The Australia [1895] P 212 Trade Practices Commission v Manfal Pty Ltd (No.3) (1991) 33 FCR 382 W H Smith & Son v Clinton (1908) 99 LT 840 Wolmershausen v Gullick [1893] 2 Ch 514 Wooley v Batte (1826) 2 Car P 417; 172 ER Derrick Belan - First Plaintiff PARTIES : Nicholas Belan - Second Plaintiff (as Executors of the Estate of the Late Frank Belan) Arthur Casey - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3909/01 COUNSEL : L J Aitken - Plaintiffs M Dulhunty - Defendant SOLICITORS : Maurice May & Co - Plaintiffs R L Whyburn & Associates - Defendant