Austech Institute for Further Education Pty Ltd v Britt [2010] NSWSC 56

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Austech Institute for Further Education Pty Ltd v Britt [2010] NSWSC 56

HEARING DATE(S) : 4 February 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 4 February 2010

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Corporations List

JUDGMENT OF : Palmer J

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 4 February 2010

DECISION : Statutory Demand set aside.

CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS – STATUTORY DEMAND – Application to set aside a Statutory Demand – whether demand can be set aside for "some other reason" – whether sufficient for solicitor, in s 459E affidavit, to depose to matters in relation to the debt of which he has no first hand knowledge – whether solicitor authorised to make the s 459E affidavit on behalf of the creditor states the source of knowledge of matters in relation to the existence of a genuine dispute as to the debt – whether genuine dispute as to existence of debt. - COSTS – Indemnity basis – whether defendant's solicitors on notice of "glaringly deficient" Statutory Demand are liable to pay costs on indemnity basis.

- Companies Act 1961 (NSW) – s 222 LEGISLATION CITED : - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) – s 459C, s 459E(3), s 459G, s 459H and s 459J - Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) - Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) – s 53 and s 41(1)

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

- B & M Quality Constructions Pty Limited v. Buyrite Steel Supplies Pty Ltd (1994) 15 ACSR 433 - Eyota Pty Ltd v Hanave Pty Ltd (1994) 12 ACSR 785 - Faji (Australia) Constructions Pty Limited v AC Professional Accounting Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 180 CASES CITED : - Portrait Express (Sales) Pty Ltd v Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1996) 20 ACSR 746 - Solarite Airconditioning Pty Ltd v York International Australia Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 411 - Standard Commodities Pty Limited v Societe Socinter Department Centragel (2005) 54 ACSR 489 - Telado Pty Ltd v Vincent (1996) 7 BPR 14,874