Crowe v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2005] NSWCA 41

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Crowe v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2005] NSWCA 41

HEARING DATE(S): 8 February 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 14 March 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Sheller JA at 1; Tobias JA at 2; Bryson JA at 89

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT - Unconscionability - Special disadvantage - Improvident transactions - Default on mortgage - Whether transaction should be set aside on the ground of unconscionable conduct - Whether mortgagor's lack of independent financial advice placed her in position of special disadvantage - - CONTRACT - Unjust contracts under Contracts Review Act 1980 - Whether unfair conduct in means employed to make contract - Whether material inequality of bargaining power between parties.

LEGISLATION CITED: Contracts Review Act 1980

Yerkey v Jones (1939) 63 CLR 649 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 CASES CITED: Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457 Elkofairi v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd [2002] NSWCA 413 St George Bank Limited v Trimarchi [2004] NSWCA 120 West v AGC (Advances) Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 610

Anna Maria Crowe PARTIES: Commonwealth Bank of Australia

FILE NUMBER(S): CA 40540/04

A: M J Kelly SC / G McNally COUNSEL: R: M B J Lee

A: Cater & Plumber, Griffith SOLICITORS: R: Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Sydney

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION: Supreme Court - Common Law Division

LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S): SC 10136/03

LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER: James J

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COURT OF APPEAL CA 40540/04 SC 10136/03