Janson v Janson [2007] NSWSC 1344

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Janson v Janson [2007] NSWSC 1344

HEARING DATE(S) : 5-9 November 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 23 November 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Biscoe AJ

CATCHWORDS : Undue Influence – voluntary transfer by old, deaf, almost blind, childless bachelor to his nephew of virtually his only asset, the house in which he had lived for almost his entire life – no independent advice – nephew held uncle's power of attorney and had given him care and assistance for many years – presumption of undue influence – presumption not rebutted

LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995, ss 64, 108A Protected Estates Act 1983

Bester v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1970] 3 NSWR 30 Brusewitz v Brown [1923] NZLR 1106 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Haskew v Equity Trustees, Executors and Agency Co Ltd (1919) 27 CLR 231 Hillston v Bar-Mordecai [2003] NSWSC 89 In Re Coomber [1911] 1 Ch 723 Johnson v Buttress (1936) 56 CLR 113 Law Society of New South Wales v Walsh (NSWCA, 15 December 1997, unreported, BC9706885) Linderstam v Barnett (1915) 19 CLR 528 Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621 CASES CITED : Moxon v Payne (1873) LR 8 Ch App 881 Poosathurdi v Kanappa Chettiar (1919) LR 47 IA. Riz v Perpetual Trustee Australia Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1153 Royal Bank of Scotland plc v Etridge (No 2) [2002] 2 AC 773 Spong v Spong (1914) 18 CLR 544 Stivactas v Michaletos (No 2) (1993) NSW ConvR 55-683 Trevenar v Ussfeller [2005] NSWSC 582 Turner v Windever [2003] NSWSC 1147 Union Fidelity Trustee Co of Australia Ltd v Gibson [1971] VR 573 Watkins v Combes (1922) 30 CLR 180 Watson v Watson [2002] NSWSC 919