Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386

HEARING DATE(S) : 18, 19 February 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 4 May 2010

JURISDICTION : Equity

JUDGMENT OF : Ward J

1. Order the first defendant pay to the plaintiff, for the benefit of the estate of the late Peter Maatouk Snr the sum of $246,540 plus interest from the date on which demand for repayment was made to date. DECISION : 2. Dismiss the plaintiff's claims against the second defendant. 3. Stand over for submissions on costs.

CATCHWORDS : LOAN - payment of money held to be made under an enforceable loan agreement between plaintiff and first defendant - first defendant ordered to repay loan amount - CONTRIBUTION - principles concerning doctrine of contribution - no right of contribution in absence of common intention between co-borrowers that second defendant be responsible for repayment - UNJUST ENRICHMENT - claims based on unjust enrichment fail - not sufficient merely to show receipt of benefit by first and second defendants - necessary to establish basis on which retention of benefit unjust - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - date of accrual of cause of action based on a debt or unjust enrichment - existence of confirmation of debt and operation of s 54 of Limitation Act - proceedings commenced within limitation period - PLEADINGS - necessary to plead factors giving rise to claim for unjust enrichment

LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969 (NSW)

Albion Insurance Co Ltd v GIO (NSW) [1969] HCA 55; (1969) 121 CLR 342 Anon, (1293) Y.B 21-22 Edw. I. (R.S.) 110-111 Baltic Shipping Company v Dillon [1993] HCA 4; (1993) 176 CLR 344; (1993) 111 ALR 289 Bhupinder Sekhon v Sharangjit Cour Sekhon [2007] NSWSC 875 BP Petroleum Development Ltd v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1987] SLT 345 Brott v Grey [2000] FCA 1727 Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 17; (2002) 209 CLR 282; (2002) 187 ALR 612 Capita Financial Group Limited v Rothwells Limited (1993) 30 NSWLR 619 Clune v Collins Angus & Robertson Publishers Pty Limited (1992) 25 IPR 246 Cockburn v GIO Finance Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWCA 177; (2001) 51 NSWLR 624 Coshott v Lenin [2007] NSWCA 153 Coulls v Bagot's Executor & Trustee Co Limited (1967) 119 CLR 460 David Securities Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1992] HCA 48; (1992) 175 CLR 353 Dering v Earl of Winchelsea (1787) 1 Cox 318; 29 ER 1184; [1775-1802] All ER Rep 140 Dinsdale bht Protective Commissioner v Arthur [2006] NSWSC 809; (2006) 12 BPR 23,514 Faraday v Rappaport [2007] NSWSC 34 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; (2007) 230 CLR 89; (2007) 236 ALR 209 Forgeard v Shanahan (1994) 35 NSWLR 206 Gleeson v Gleeson [2002] NSWSC 418 Haller v Arye [2005] QCA 224; (2005) 2 Qd R 410 Hoy Mobile Pty Ltd v Allphones Retail Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] FCA 810; [2008] ATPR 42-240 CASES CITED : Jones v Padavatton [1969] 1 WLR 328 Ingram v Ingram [1941] VLR 95 Lactos Fresh Pty Ltd v Finishing Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2006] FCA 748 Lewis v Lewis & Anor [2001] NSWSC 321 Lumbers v W Cook Builders Pty Limited [2008] HCA 27; (2008) 232 CLR 635; (2008) 247 ALR 412 Makita (Australia) Pty Limited v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Malco Engineering Pty Limited v Ferreira & ors (1994) 10 NSWCCR 117 Muschinski v Dodds [1985] HCA 78; (1985) 160 CLR 583 Official Trustee in Bankruptcy v Citibank Savings Ltd (1995) 38 NSWLR 116 Ogilvie v Adams [1981] VR 1041 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paul [1987] HCA 5; (1987) 162 CLR 221 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544 Re Brookers (Aust) Ltd (in liq); Brooker v Pridham (1986) 41 SASR 380 Re Hodgson (1886) 31 Ch D 177 Switz Pty Ltd v Glowbind Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 222 Torrens Aloha Pty Ltd v Citibank NA [1997] FCA 77; (1997) 72 FCR 581; (1997) 144 ALR 89; (1997) 35 ATR 36 VL Finance Pty Ltd v Legudi [2003] VSC 57; (2003) 54 ATR 221 Vukic v Luca Grbin and Ors; Estate of Zvonko Grbin [2006] NSWSC 41 Wasada Pty Limited v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (No.2) [2003] NSWSC 987 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 35 Weeks v Hrubala [2008] NSWSC 162 Young v Queensland Trustees Ltd [1956] HCA 51; (1956) 99 CLR 560; [1956] ALR 939