Zappia v Parelli & Anor;Ligon 116 Pty Limited & Parelli v Ligon 116 Pty Limited;Zappia & anor v Parelli & anor [2007] NSWSC 972

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Zappia v Parelli & Anor;Ligon 116 Pty Limited & Parelli v Ligon 116 Pty Limited;Zappia & anor v Parelli & anor [2007] NSWSC 972

HEARING DATE(S) : 18, 19 and 20 July 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 31 August 2007

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Windeyer J at 1

DECISION : Order for widow made. Claim by son dismissed. Order for registration of shares in name of executors.

CATCHWORDS : FAMILY PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE - insufficient estate - claim by second wife/widow - estate probably insolvent - insolvency caused by costs in proceedings and Family Law proceedings continued after death - some doubt as to value of assets - order made on understanding probably ineffective - claim by son dismissed - comments on disproportionate costs - COSTS - Family Provision Act claim - amounts of costs - clear lack of proportionality - comments on amounts - order capping costs and requiring assessment of all costs and preventing agreement

LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Family Provision Act 1983 (NSW)

CASES CITED : Leeder v Ellis [1953] AC 52

Shen Jie Zappia (Plaintiff in 5297/06, and Second Defendant in 6259/06) John Zappia (Plaintiff in 2147/07) Jason Parelli (First Defendant in 2147/07 and 5297/06 and First Plaintiff in 5259/06) PARTIES : Peter James Kernan (Second Plaintiff in 5259/06 and Second Defendant in 2147/07) Jian Ma (Third Defendant in 6259/06) Ligon 116 Pty Limited (First Plaintiff in 6259/06) Ligon 116 Pty Limited (First Defendant in 6259/06)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5297/06; 6259/06; 2147/07

Mr M Broun QC (for Shien Jie Zappia and Jian Ma) COUNSEL : Mr P Mendue (for John Zappia) Mr R Dubler SC (for Defendants in 2147/06 and 5297/06 and Plaintiffs in 6259/06