Hewitt v Gardner; Hewitt v Gardner [2009] NSWSC 1107

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Hewitt v Gardner; Hewitt v Gardner [2009] NSWSC 1107

HEARING DATE(S) : 13, 14, 15 and 29 July 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 16 October 2009

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Ward J

DECISION : In 2693/07 Orders for provision made in respect of three of the plaintiffs. In 2046/08 Declare that the defendant holds property on trust for the estate. Order property to be reconveyed.

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - general principles - undue influence and duress - deceased transferred home to defendant for consideration of one dollar - defendant the daughter and primary carer for deceased - whether relationship between deceased and defendant gave rise to presumption of undue influence - whether presumption rebutted - held that relationship gave rise to presumption of undue influence - presumption not rebutted - SUCCESSION - family provision and maintenance - deceased left will and codicil giving lifetime occupation right and residue of estate to one of eight adult children - claims for provision made by remaining seven children - whether inadequate provision made for some or all plaintiffs - held that inadequate provision made for three of plaintiffs - relief granted

Family Provision Act 1982 LEGISLATION CITED : Uniform Civil Procedure Rules Real Property Act 1900

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA v Aboody [1990] 1 QB 23 Barkley v Barkley-Brown [2009] NSWSC 76 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 Breen v Williams (1995-6) 186 CLR 71 Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457 Collings v Vakas [2006] NSWSC 393 Commercial Bank of Australia Limited v Amadio (1993) 151 CLR 447 Hewitt v Gardner; Hewitt & Gardner [2009] NSWSC 705 Hospital Products Ltd v United Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Huguenin v Baseley (1807) 14 Ves Jun Supp 273 Johnson v Buttress (1936) 56 CLR 113 Johnson v Johnson [2009] NSWSC 503 Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 61 CASES CITED : McDougall v Rogers; Estate of James Rogers [2006] NSWSC 484 Morrison v Coast Finance Limited (1965) 55 DLR (2d) 6710 Nelson v Nelson (1995) 184 CLR 538 Palmer v Dolman, Dolman v Palmer [2005] NSWCA 361 Poosathurai v Kanappa Chettiar (1919) LR 47 Ind App 1 Re Birtchnell (1929) 42 CLR 384 Riz v Perpetual Trustee Australia Limited [2007] NSWSC 1153 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) (1994) 181 CLR 201 Stivactas v Michaletos (No 2) [1994] ANZ ConvR 252 Turner v Windever [2003] NSWSC 1147 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Walker v Walker (NSWSC, 17 May 1996, unreported) Watkins v Combes (1922) 30 CLR 180 Whereat v Duff [1972] 2 NSWLR 147 Winefield v Clarke [2008] NSWSC 12