Leybourne v Permanent Custodians Ltd [2010] NSWCA 78

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Leybourne v Permanent Custodians Ltd [2010] NSWCA 78

HEARING DATE(S): 9 March 2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 23 April 2010

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA; Tobias JA; Sackville AJA

DECISION: (1) Appeal dismissed with costs. (2) Discharge the stay granted on 25 May 2009.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT - loan agreement - pre-contractual statement under Credit Code - part of offer - offer accepted - deed not necessary - addition of "per" to lender's signature - not material change - Real Property Act ss 36(10)(a), 36(11), 51A - Conveyancing Act ss 23C, 38 not relevant - intention to create legal relations manifested - agreement binding - no question of principle. MORTGAGE - signed by solicitor for mortgagee to certify correctness of dealing - solicitor's name substituted - not material alteration - mortgage secured an enforceable loan agreement - memorandum validly incorporated - no question of principle. PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS - application for adjournment in order to apply to consolidate with other proceedings - application for adjournment due to late production of evidence - leave to apply again if prejudice shown - no procedural unfairness - solicitor appearing for himself - not to be treated as unrepresented litigant. EVIDENCE - Evidence Act ss 135, 136 - no unfair prejudice - no error shown. AGENCY - authority to sign for lender - on facts, was authority - in any event, ratification established - not necessary for ratification to know particular act of agency.

Armor Coatings (Marketing) Pty Ltd v General Credits (Finance) Pty Ltd (1978) 17 SASR 259; Australian Blue Metal Ltd v Hughes (1961) 79 WN (NSW) 498; Bakerland Pty Ltd v Coleridge [2002] NSWCA 30; Bremner v Sinclair NSWCA, 3 November 1998; (2001) ANZ Conv R 29; Brockway v Pando [2000] WASCA 192; Eastern Construction Co Ltd v National Trust Co Ltd (1914) AC 197; Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (in liq) v Slade & Anor (1996) 38 NSWLR 636; Galvin v R [2006] NSWCCA 66; (2006) 161 A Crim R 449; Iannello v Sharpe [2007] NSWCA 61; (2007) 69 NSWLR 452; CASES CITED: Jones v Peters (1948) VLR 331; Longhurst v Hunt [2004] NSWCCA 193; (2002) 130 A Crim R 256; Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 208 ALR 213; Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 186 CLR 297; Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v English [2010] NSWCA 32; Petersen v Moloney (1951) 84 CLR 91; Pigot's case (1614) 11 Co Rep 26b; 77 ER 1177; Provident Capital Limited v Printy [2008] NSWCA 131; 13 BPR 25,199; R v Suteski [2002] NSWCCA 509; (2002) 56 NSWLR 182; Union Bank of Australia Ltd v McClintock (1922) 1 AC 240; [2006] NSWSC 1028; Warburton v National Westminster Finance Australia Ltd (1988) 15 NSWLR 238.