Batey & Anor v Potts & Ors [2004] NSWSC 606

Reported Decision : 61 NSWLR 274

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Batey & Anor v Potts & Ors [2004] NSWSC 606 HEARING DATE(S) : 28/06/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 July 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Certificate of conviction admissible. Forfeiture rule applied on death of father to postpone son's enjoyment of residue for period of life expectancy of father. Rule in Saunders v Vautier inapplicable. Leave to make late application under Forfeiture Act 1995 granted. Rule modified to allow son to take residue on death of father.

CATCHWORDS : SUCCESSION - Executors and Administrators - Proceedings by executors or administrators - Determination of questions in administration of estate - Nature of right of residence granted to husband by testatrix - Residuary estate bequeathed to son - Whether forfeiture rule applies to acceleration of son's interest upon killing father - Son convicted of manslaughter - Whether certificate of conviction admissible - Whether son's interest postponed for period of life expectancy of father - Whether late application for modification of rule under Forfeiture Act 1995 should be granted - Whether rule should be modified - Whether only effect of forfeiture rule to delay son's entitlement Supreme Court Rules 1970 LEGISLATION CITED : Forfeiture Act 1995 Evidence Act 1995 Permanent Trustee Co Ltd v Gillett [2004] NSWSC 278 In the Estate of Crippen [1911] P 108 Hollington v F Hewthorn & Co Ltd [1943] 1 KB 587 Helton v Allen (1940) 63 CLR at 691 Helsham v Blackwood (1851) 11 CB 111 (138 ER 412) Re Jane Tucker (1920) 21 SR (NSW) 175 In the Estate of Hall, Hall v Knight & Baxter [1914] P 1 In re Giles, decd [1972] 1 Ch 544 In re Plaister. Perpetual Trustee Co v Crawshaw (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 547 Clift v Clift (1964) 82 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 298 CASES CITED : M'Naghten Rules (1843) 10 Cl & F 200 (8 ER 718) Cleaver v Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association [1892] 1 QB 147 Troja v Troja (1994) 33 NSWLR 269 Public Trustee v Evans (1985) 2 NSWLR 188 Public Trustee v Fraser (1987) 9 NSWLR 433 Re Keitley [1992] 1 VR 583 Permanent Trustee Co Ltd v Freedom From Hunger Campaign (1991) 25 NSWLR 140 White v Arizon Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 1051 Re Keenan (1913) 30 WN (NSW) 214 Rasmanis v Jurewitsch (1968) 88 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 59 Saunders v Vautier (1841) 4 Beav 115 (49 ER 282) Mason and Carter, Restitution Law in Australia, Butterworths, Sydney, 1995 Sandra Rosemary Batey and Permanent Trustee Co Ltd - Plaintiffs PARTIES : Malcolm Robert Mario Potts - 1st Defendant Tina Potts - 2nd Defendant Kirsten Verwoord - 3rd Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3809/03 Mr P H Blackburn-Hart - Plaintiffs COUNSEL : Mr C G Catt - 1st Defendant Mr R Johnson - 2nd Defendant Mr J Patey - 3rd Defendant Bartier Perry Solicitors SOLICITORS : Peter Baker Solicitor Harris Hyde Page Lawyers L Rundle & Co Solicitors