National Australia Bank v Satchithanantham [2009] NSWSC 21

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : National Australia Bank v Satchithanantham [2009] NSWSC 21

HEARING DATE(S) : 7-9/4/08; 16/4/08; 30/5/08; 17/6/08; 22/7/08; 25/7/08 and 5/9/08

JUDGMENT DATE : 6 February 2009

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : McCallum J

1. That the parties be deemed to have entered into a deed varying the loan agreement between them so that in all respects the Facility shall operate as if the loan amount advanced on 16 April 2003 and debited to the defendant's account had been $408,665.86. DECISION : 2. Judgment for the unpaid balance in the account calculated on that basis. 3. An order for possession of the Westmead property.

CATCHWORDS : COMMON LAW - defences to claim for possession - undue influence by husband - second limb of Yerkey v Jones - whether unconscionable conduct on the part of the bank - whether contract unjust - partial volunteer - inferences to be drawn in the absence of a witness - pure asset lending

Contracts Review Act 1980 LEGISLATION CITED : Fair Trading Act 1987 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Beneficial Finance Corp Ltd v Karavas (1991) 23 NSWLR 256 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio [1983] HCA 14; (1982-1983) 151 CLR 447 Elkofairi v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd [2002] NSWCA 413; (2003) ACR 90 Garcia v National Australia Bank [1987] HCA 48; (1998) 194 CLR 395 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 CASES CITED : King Mortgages v Satchithanantham [2006] NSWSC 1303 Kyabram Property Investments v Murray [2005] NSWCA 63 Nguyen v Taylor (1992) 27 NSWLR 48 No Fuss Finance Pty Ltd v Miller [2006] NSWSC 630 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Koshaba [2006] NSWCA 41 Yerkey v Jones [1939] HCA 3; (1939) 63 CLR 649