Gray v National Crime Authority [2003] NSWSC 111

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Gray v National Crime Authority [2003] NSWSC 111 HEARING DATE(S) : 22, 23, 24 & 25 October 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 28 February 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Austin J DECISION : See under heading "Conclusion"

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - equitable estoppel - whether representations were made - whether representations sufficiently clear to ground estoppel - whether representations were relied upon to plaintiffs' detriment - causation of loss - equitable compensation - measure of recovery Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983 (Cth) s 9(6) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 32(2)(b) LEGISLATION CITED : National Crime Authority Act (State Provisions) 1984 (NSW) s 31 Proceeds of Crime Act 1987 (Cth) s 82(1) Witness Protection Act 1995 (NSW) s 32 Alexander v Cambridge Credit Limited (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 Austotel Pty Ltd v Franklins Self Serve Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 582 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v CG Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (No 2) (1999) 96 FCR 491 Beach Petroleum NL v Kennedy (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Crabtree-Vickers v Australian Direct Mail (1975) 133 CLR 72 Freeman & Lockyer v Buckhurst Park Properties [1964] 2 QB 480 Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406 Maguire v Makaronis (1997) 198 CLR 449 March v Stramare (1991) 171 CLR 506 Morley v Morley (1855) 25 Beav 253 [53 ER 633] CASES CITED : O'Halloran v RT Thomas & Family Pty Ltd (1998) 45 NSWLR 262 R v O'Neill [1972] VR 327 Ricochet Pty Ltd v Equity Trustees Executors and Agency Company Limited (1993) 41 FCR 229 Silovi Pty Ltd v Barbaro (1988) 13 NSWLR 466 Target Holdings Limited v Redferns [1996] 1 AC 421 The Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Verwayen in Wykes v Samilk Pty Ltd [1998] NSWCA 192 (19 May 1998) Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 White v Illawarra Building Society [2002] NSWCA 164 (19 July 2002) Woodhouse AC Israel Cocoa Ltd SA v Nigerian Produce Marketing Co Ltd [1971] 1 All ER 665 Youyang v Minter Ellison [2001] NSWCA 198 (8 October 2001) Margaret Gray as administrator of the Estate of John Gray (P1) PARTIES : Margaret Gray (P2) National Crime Authority (D) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2580/98 COUNSEL : M R Aldridge SC with P Livingstone (P) D Ryan SC with M Dicker (D) SOLICITORS : Horowitz & Bilinsky (P) Andrew Adams, Solicitor for National Crime Authority (D)