Dean-Willcocks v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2003] NSWSC 466

Reported Decision : (2003) 45 ACSR 564 (2003) 21 ACLC 1206

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Dean-Willcocks v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2003] NSWSC 466 HEARING DATE(S) : 28 May 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 May 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Austin J DECISION : Experts' reports inadmissible

CATCHWORDS : EVIDENCE - expert opinion evidence - evidence as to reasonable grounds to suspect solvency and whether a reasonable person in the defendant's circumstances would suspect insolvency - whether experts' opinions wholly or substantially based on their specialised knowledge - whether experts' opinions would usurp function of trier of fact - whether evidence should be excluded on discretionary grounds LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 588FA, 588FE, 588FF, 588FG Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 55, 76, 79, 80, 135 AAPT Ltd v Cable & Wireless Optus Ltd (1999) 32 ACSR 63 Allatech Pty Ltd v Construction Management Group Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 757 ASIC v Adler [2001] NSWSC 1103 Dyson v Pharmacy Board of New South Wales (24 October 2000, unreported) Godfrey v NSW (No 1) [2003] NSWSC 160 CASES CITED : Harkness v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (1993) 32 NSWLR 543 Keith Smith East West Transport Pty Ltd v Australian Taxation Office (2002) ACSR 501 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Notaras v Hugh [2003] NSWSC 167 Quick v Stoland Pty Ltd (1998) 87 FCR 371 Sheahan v Hertz Australia Pty Ltd (1995) 16 ACSR 765 Sydneywide Distributors Pty Ltd v Red Bull Australia Pty Ltd (2002) 55 IPR 354 Ronald John Dean-Willcocks (in his capacity as Liquidator of Austral Pacific Group Ltd (in liquidation)) (P1) PARTIES : Austral Pacific Group Ltd (in liquidation) (P2) Commonwealth Bank of Australia (D) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5259/01 COUNSEL : C R C Newlinds with A Seward (P) R Forster SC with M B J Lee (D) SOLICITORS : Kemp Strang (P) Corrs Chambers Westgarth (D)