Polistena v Mitton; Agnew v Mitton [2011] NSWSC 931

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Polistena v Mitton; Agnew v Mitton [2011] NSWSC 931 Hearing dates: 15 August 2011 Decision date: 31 August 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Hallen AsJ Decision: Declare that the amount of $254,458 forms part of the actual estate of the deceased. Having found that the Plaintiff, Pauline Polistena, is an eligible person and that the provision made for her on intestacy is inadequate, order that in lieu of the entitlement on intestacy, she is to receive out of the estate or notional estate of the deceased, a lump sum of $100,000. That sum should not include the amount of $2,000 that was the subject of the gift to her by the deceased. Whilst the Plaintiff, Christine Agnew, is an eligible person, provided that she receives one third of the amount declared to form part of the actual estate of the deceased, namely $82,500, her entitlement on intestacy is not inadequate. Order that her Summons is dismissed. Parties to bring in short minutes to reflect the declaration and these orders. The matter is adjourned for further argument on costs if the parties are unable to agree. Catchwords: Two different proceedings, in which a claim for a family provision order under Chapter 3 of the NSW Succession Act 2006 by two adult daughters of deceased - Proceedings heard together, the evidence in one being evidence in the other - first Defendant is a child of the deceased, and sister of Plaintiffs, and second Defendant is a grandchild of the deceased and son of first Defendant - Whether gift of cash made by the deceased - Whether other property in the estate - whether designation of property as notional estate necessary Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 Succession Act 2006 Succession Amendment (Family Provision) Act 2008 Cases Cited: Blore v Lang (1960) 104 CLR 124 Bondelmonte v Blanckensee [1989] WAR 305 Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1938] AC 463 Cabban v Cabban [2010] NSWSC 1433 Collins v McGain [2003] NSWCA 190 Cooper v Dungan (1976) 50 ALJR 539 Devereaux-Warnes v Hall [No 3] [2007] WASCA 235; (2007) 35 WAR 127 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 Everett, Re; Executor Trustee & Agency Co of South Australia Ltd v Everett [1917] SALR 52 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Ford v Simes [2009] NSWCA 351 Goodman v Windeyer (1980) 144 CLR 490 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Hampson v Hampson [2010] NSWCA 359 Hawkins v Prestage (1989) 1 WAR 37 Hitchcock v Pratt [2010] NSWSC 1508 Horsley v Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers Pty Ltd [1995] NSWSC 78 Hughes v National Trustees, Executors and Agency Co of Australasia Ltd [1979] HCA 2; (1979) 143 CLR 134 Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Kleinig v Neal (No 2) [1981] 2 NSWLR 532 Lathwell v Lathwell [2008] WASCA 256 Leue v Reynolds (1986) 4 NSWLR 590 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566 McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 Mayfield v Lloyd-Williams [2004] NSWSC 419 Palmer v Dolman; Dolman v Palmer [2005] NSWCA 361 Permanent Trustee Company v Fraser (1995) 36 NSWLR 24 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales [1962] HCA 19; (1961) 107 CLR 9 Puckridge, Deceased, In the Estate of (1978) 20 SASR 72 Samsley v Barnes [1990] NSWCA 161; (1991) DFC 95-100 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) [1994] HCA 40; (1994) 181 CLR 201 Stern v Sekers; Sekers v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Thomas v Times Book Co Ltd [1966] 2 All ER 241 Vigolo v Bostin [2005] HCA 11; (2005) 221 CLR 191 Vukic v Luca Grbin; Estate of Zvonko Grbin [2006] NSWSC 41 Walker v Walker (NSWSC, 17 May 1996, unreported) Weeks v Hrubala [2008] NSWSC 162 Zahra v Francica [2009] NSWSC 1206 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Pauline Annette Polistena (Plaintiff in proceedings 2010/266480) Christine Denise Agnew (Plaintiff in proceedings 2010/304148) Linda Vivienne Mitton (first Defendant in both proceedings) Cameron Mitchell Mitton (second Defendant in both proceedings) Representation: Counsel: Ms E Glover (Plaintiff in proceedings 2010/266480) Ms L W Chan (Plaintiff in proceedings 2010/304148) Mr J Armfield (Defendants in both proceedings) Solicitors: Doherty Partners (Plaintiff in proceedings 2010/266480) Dignan & Hanrahan (Plaintiff in proceedings 2010/304148) Adrian Byrne & Co (Defendants in both proceedings) File Number(s): 2010/266480; 2010/304148