Big Top Hereford Pty Ltd v Gavin Thomas as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estate of Douglas Keith Tyler [2006] NSWSC 1159

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Big Top Hereford Pty Ltd v Gavin Thomas as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estate of Douglas Keith Tyler [2006] NSWSC 1159

HEARING DATE(S) : 10, 11, 16 October 2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 6 November 2006

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

DECISION : Herd is mixed goods to which parties are entitled proportionately according to their contributions, plaintiff as to 60% and defendant as to 40%. Direct that parties bring in short minutes to give effect thereto and provide method for division or realisation.

CATCHWORDS : PERSONAL PROPERTY – Livestock – Cattle – Agistment – possession of cattle on agistment – commixture of goods – where herd comprises cattle in bankrupt estate, and cattle previously sold by bankrupt's stock mortgagee to third party, and impossible to ascertain which cattle are in which category

LEGISLATION CITED : (NSW) Conveyancing Act 1919, s 36A

Australian Breeders Co-op Society Ltd v Corporation of the City of Marion [(1992) 76 LGRA 175 Bridges v Hawkesworth (1851) 21 LJQB 75 Buckley v Gross (1863) 2 B&S 566, 575; 122 ER 213 Case of Swans (1592 7 CoRep 15b; 77 ER 435 Coldman v Hill [1919] 1 KB 443 Coleman v Harvey [1989] 1 NZLR 723 Flack v Chairperson, National Crime Authority [1997] FCA 1331 (26 November 1997, Hill J) Helton v Sullivan [1968] QdR 562 Humphrey v Phipps [1974] 1 NZLR 650 Indian Oil Corp Ltd v Greenstone Shippiong SA (Panama) (The Ypatianna) [1988] QB 345 CASES CITED : Jones v Moore (1841) 4 Y&C Ex 351; 160 ER 1041 McArdle v Vadim Nominees Pty Ltd (1984) 2 SR(WA) 156 Parker v British Airways Board [1982] 2 WLR 503 Pipicella v Stagg (1983) 32 SASR 464 R v Croft (Inhabitants) (1819) 3 B&Ald 171; 106 ER 625 Robinson v Waters (1920) 22 WALR 66 Sandeman & Sons v Tyzack and Branfoot Steamship Co Ld [1913] AC 680 Sinclair v Judge [1930] StRQd 220 Smith v Cook (1875) 1 QBD 79 South Staffordshire Water Company v Sharman [1896] 2 QB 44 Spring v Young [1923] SASR 115; Backhouse v Judd [1925] SASR 16 Streatfield v Winchcombe Carson Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 519