Clemson v Barber; Starkey v Barber [2011] NSWSC 995

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Clemson v Barber; Starkey v Barber [2011] NSWSC 995 Hearing dates: 15 August 2011 Decision date: 16 August 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Associate Justice Macready Decision: The orders that I make are as follows: 1 That in lieu of the provisions of the will of the deceased for a life estate in favour of the plaintiff Pamela Clemson, she receives the deceased's real estate absolutely; 2 I dismiss proceedings 2010/273928; 3 In proceedings 2010/42751, I order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs on an indemnity basis, and charge the deceased's property with the payment of those costs. Catchwords: WILLS AND ESTATES - family provision claim - financial resources and needs of claimant - only possible to provide for one claimant - claimant daughters needs were great however estate it was not possible to make provision for claimant - widow's claim prevailed over daughter's claim Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 Cases Cited: Banks v Hourigan (NSWSC, Waddell CJ in Eq, 2 March 1989, unreported) Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 Cameron v Hills (NSWSC, Needham J, 26 October 1989, unreported). Crisp v Burns Philp Trustee Co Ltd (NSWSC, Holland J, 18 December 1979, unreported) Court v Hunt (NSWSC, 14 September 1987, unreported) Elliott v Elliott (NSWCA, 24 April 1986, unreported) Golosky v Golosky (NSWCA, 5 October 1993, unreported) Hertzberg v Hertzberg [2003] NSWCA 311 Luciano v Rosenblum (1985) 2 NSWLR 65 Marshall v Carruthers [2002] NSWCA 47 Permanent Trustee v Fraser (1995) 36 NSWLR 24 Salmon v Blackford [1997] NSWCA 274 Singer v Berghouse [1994] HCA 40 White v Barron (1980) 144 CLR 431) Worladge v Doddridge (1957) 97 CLR 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Pamela Clemson (Plaintiff) Kaye Leslie Starkey (Plaintiff) Elizabeth Barber and Robert Williams (Defendant) Representation: Counsel J Ryan (for Clemson) PR Glissan (for Starkey) DM Flaherty (Defendant) Solicitors Mark Brown & Associates (for Clemson) Roderick Storie Solicitors (for Starkey) John De Mattia & Company (Defendant) File Number(s): 2010/042751; 2010/273928