Sims v Gawne [2005] NSWSC 750

New South Wales Supreme Court

Sims v Gawne [2005] NSWSC 750 CITATION : This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 15 March, 22 April and 7 July 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 27 July 2005

JURISDICTION : Equity

JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J

DECISION : Partnership agreement not illegal.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT [90] - General contractual principles - Illegal and void contracts - Contracts illegal by statute - Particular statutes - Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 - Agreement to carry on business of real estate agents in partnership - One partner does not hold licence as real estate agent.

Conveyancing Act 1919 s 66G LEGISLATION CITED : Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 1941 ss 20, 56 Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 ss 3, 8, 10, 11 and Schedule 1 par 14

Commercial Life Assurance Company of Canada v Drever [1948] SCR 306 Dungate v Lee [1969] 1 Ch 545 Ex parte Wilson [1898] 2 QB 547 Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (in liq) v Edgar (1993) 114 ALR 1 Fitzgerald v F J Leonhardt Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 215 George Hudson Ltd v Australian Timber Workers' Union (1923) 32 CLR 413 Hayes v Cable [1962] SR(NSW) 1 Hoyt's Proprietary Limited v Spencer (1919) 27 CLR 133 CASES CITED : J C Scott Constructions v Mermaid Waters Tavern Pty Ltd [1984] 2 Qd R 413 Mathieson v Burton (1971) 124 CLR 1 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261 Millner v Raith (1942) 66 CLR 1 Nelson v Nelson (1995) 184 CLR 538 Pham v Doan [2005] NSWSC 201 The King v Kidman (1915) 20 CLR 425 Yango Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v First Chicago Australia Ltd (1978) 139 CLR 410 Pearce and Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (5th ed, 2001) [10.8], [10.9]