Atkinson v Atlas Investments Limited [2004] NSWSC 63

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Atkinson v Atlas Investments Limited [2004] NSWSC 63 HEARING DATE(S) : 24/11/03 - 25/11/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 18 February 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Burchett AJ at 1 DECISION : 1) Motion for Leave to Proceed dismissed with costs; 2) Motion brought by Atlas Investments Limited to set aside the plaintiff's originating process allowed with costs; 3) Amended Summons dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : Anshun estoppel - alternative case not pleaded in earlier action - whether fundamental to the decision in that action - whether it was unreasonable not to plead the alternative - whether the Moçambique rule made it reasonable because the earlier action was in Vanuatu and land in NSW was involved - whether "trust" exception to the Moçambique rule applied - effect of the abolition of the Moçambique rule in NSW itself on any question of comity - Anshun held to apply. LEGISLATION CITED : Jurisdiction of Courts (Foreign Land) Act 1989, s3 Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552 Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 Brewer v Brewer (1953) 88 CLR 1 British South Africa Co. v Companhia de Moçambique [1893] AC 602 Deschamps v Miller [1908] 1 Ch 856 Doyle (dec'd), Ex parte Brien v Doyle, Re (1993) 112 ALR 653 Hesperides Hotels Ltd v Muftizade [1979] AC 508 CASES CITED : Hoystead v Commissioner of Taxation (1926) AC 155 Inglis v Commonwealth Trading Bank of Australia (1972) 20 FLR 30 Johnson v Gore Wood & Co [2002] 2 AC 1 Miller v University of New South Wales (2003) 200 ALR 565 Multistar Pty Ltd v Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning (No 2) (2000) 111 LGERA 319 Penn v Lord Baltimore (1750) 1 Ves. Sen. 444 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun (1981) 147 CLR 589 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 198 Ruddock v Taylor [2003] NSWCA 262 PARTIES : George Atkinson (Plaintiff) Atlas Investments Limited (Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4086/03; 5204/03 COUNSEL : W. Hodgekiss (Plaintiff) D. Murr SC / J Conomy (Defendant) Philip Parbury & Associates (Plaintiff) SOLICITORS : Holman Webb (Defendant) (Plaintiff's solicitors have since filed a Notice of Ceasing to Act and G. Atkinson is now a litigant in person.)