Expile Pty Limited v Jabb's Excavations Pty Ltd & Anor [2004] NSWSC 284

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Expile Pty Limited v Jabb's Excavations Pty Ltd & Anor [2004] NSWSC 284 HEARING DATE(S) : 1 to 4 March, 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 April 2004 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Palmer J DECISION : Deed of company arrangement terminated; order made for winding up of First Defendant.

CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS - DEED OF COMPANY ARRANGEMENT - Plaintiff applied for winding up of defendant - defendant failed to prove solvency - before judgment delivered company appointed administrators - costs order made in favour of plaintiff - deed of company arrangement then executed - whether costs order was a debt or claim bound by deed - DEED OF COMPANY ARRANGEMENT - TERMINATION - Successful applicant for winding up would lose priority for repayment of legal costs if deed of company arrangement allowed to stand - whether deed should be terminated - PROOF OF DEBT - ADMISSION - Means whereby creditors are admitted to vote at creditors' meetings discussed - WORDS AND PHRASES - "contingent claim", "future claim" discussed. Companies (NSW) Code - s.315(b) LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) - s.439A, s.439C, s.440A, s.444A, s.444D(1), s.444E(2), s.445D, s.445G, s.447E, s.459, s.466, s.553(1), s.556(1), s.1321 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth) - s.221P - Brash Holdings Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v Katile Pty Ltd [1996] 1 VR 24 - Crigglestone Coal Company, In re [1906] 2 Ch 327 - Data Homes Pty Ltd (in liq), Re [1972] 2 NSWLR 22 - Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v. Portinex Pty Ltd (2000) 34 ACSR 391 - Emanuele v Australian Securities Commission (1995) 63 FCR 54 - Expile Pty Ltd v Jabb's Excavations Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 699 - FAI Workers' Compensation (NSW) Ltd v Philkor Builders Pty Ltd (1996) 20 ASCR 592 - FAI Workers' Compensation (NSW) v Philkor Builders Pty Ltd (No 2) (1996) 21 ACSR 532 CASES CITED : - Molit (No 55) Pty Ltd v Lam Soon Australia Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (1996) 19 ACSR 160 - Pasminco Ltd (Administrators Appointed), Re; McCluskey v Pasminco Ltd (2002) 41 ACSR 256 - Selim v McGrath (2003) 47 ACSR 537 - Sessions Video Distributors Pty Ltd, Re (1993) 10 ACSR 421 - Silbermann v One.Tel Ltd (In liq) (2002) 167 FLR 274 - Taxation, Deputy Commissioner of v Winterburn Trading Pty Ltd (1993) 27 ATR 189 - Taxation, Federal Commissioner of v All Suburbs Car Repairs Pty Ltd (1994) 14 ACSR 753 - Taxation, Federal Commissioner of v B & G Plant Hire Pty Ltd (1994) 52 FCR 257 - Tony Michael Mechanical Pty Ltd (under administration), Re [2003] QSC 141 - V & M Diagnostic Services Pty Ltd, Re (1985) 9 ACLR 663 Expile Pty Limited - Plaintiff PARTIES : Jabb's Excavations Pty Ltd - First Defendant Peter Ngan - Second Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 1887/02 COUNSEL : S.D. Epstein SC - Plaintiff R.G. Forster SC and D.A. Allen - Defendants SOLICITORS : Baron & Associates - Plaintiff Middletons - Defendants