Austin v Hornby [2011] NSWSC 1059

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Austin v Hornby [2011] NSWSC 1059 Hearing dates: 13 & 14 July 2011 Decision date: 08 September 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Ward J Decision: Order for the payment of moneys as return of contributions to failed joint endeavour between parties on Baumgartner principles. No order under Property (Relationships) Act claim. Catchwords: TRUSTS - whether plaintiff's interest in real property at time of sale held on trust for cross-claimant and second cross-defendant - whether proceeds of sale of real property held on constructive or implied trust - HELD - beneficial interest in real property held at all times by plaintiff/first cross-defendant - plaintiff liable to pay portion of proceeds of sale to defendant/cross-claimant on failure of joint endeavour - no need to impose constructive trust - DE FACTO RELATIONSHIPS - application for adjustment of property interests pursuant to s 20(1) of the Property (Relationships) Act 1984 (NSW) - HELD - no adjustment warranted in light of conclusion on constructive trust claim Legislation Cited: Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 (Cth) Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Property (Relationships) Act 1984 (NSW) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allen v Tobias (1958) 98 CLR 367 Bathurst City Council v PWC Properties Pty Limited [1998] HCA 59; (1998) 195 CLR 566 Baumgartner v Baumgartner [1987] HCA 59; (1987) 164 CLR 137 Beavan v Fallshaw (1992) 15 Fam LR 686 Bilous v Mudaliar (2006) 65 NSWLR 615 Bryson v Bryant (1992) 29 NSWLR 188 Cetojevic v Cetojevic [2006] NSWSC 431 Cetojevic v Cetojevic [2007] NSWCA 33 Chanter v Catts [2005] NSWCA 411; (2005) 64 NSWLR 360 Commonwealth of Australia v McLean (1996) 41 NSWLR 389 Davey v Lee (1990) 13 Fam LR 688; DFC 95-084 Davies v Dabela [2011] NSWSC 12 Delany v Tenison (1758) 3 Bro PC 659; 1 ER 1559 Dwyer v Kaljo (1987) 11 Fam LR 785 Evans v Marmont (1997) 42 NSWLR 70 Friend v Brooker [2009] HCA 21; (2009) 239 CLR 129 Gazzola v Gazzola [1990] HCA 13; (1990) 92 ALR 45 Giumelli v Giumelli [1999] HCA 10; (1999) 196 CLR 101 Grant v Edwards [1986] Ch 638; 2 All ER 426 Gray v Haig (1855) 20 Beav 219; 52 ER 587 Green v Green (1989) 17 NSWLR 343 Green v Robinson (1995) 36 NSWLR 96 Harris v Schembri (1995) DFC 95-166 Henderson v Miles (No 2) (2005) 12 BPR 23,579 Howlett v Neilson [2005] NSWCA 149; (2005) 33 Fam LR 402 Jackson v Jackson [1999] NSWSC 229 Jones v Dunkel [1959] ALR 367; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kardos v Sarbutt [2006] NSWCA 11; (2006) 34 Fam LR 550 Liquor National Wholesale Pty Limited v Redrock Co Pty Limited [2007] NSWSC 392 Little v Saunders [2004] NSWSC 655 Manns v Kennedy [2007] NSWCA 217; (2007) 37 Fam LR 489 McKay & anor v McKay [2008] NSWSC 177 Miller v Sutherland (1990) 14 Fam LR 416 Muschinski v Dodds [1985] HCA 78; (1985) 160 CLR 583 NWR FM t/a North West Radio v Broadcasting Commission of Ireland & Anor [2004] IEHC 109 Paino v Paino [2008] NSWCA 276; (2008) 40 Fam LR 96 Parianos v Melluish (Trustee) [2003] FCA 190; (2003) 30 Fam LR 524 Ross v Elderfield [2006] NSWCA 192 Ryan v Kalocsay [2010] NSWSC 620 Selmore v Bull [2005] NSWCA 365; (2005) 34 Fam LR 488 Sharpless v McKibbin [2007] NSWSC 1498 Shepherd v Doolan [2005] NSWSC 42 Smith v Pearson [2011] NSWSC 600 Stowe v Stowe (1995) 15 WAR 363 The Ophelia [1916] 2 AC 206 Vollmer v Hauber Davidson [2006] NSWCA 79 Wallace v Stanford (1995) 37 NSWLR 1; 19 Fam LR 430 West v Mead [2003] NSWSC 161; (2003) 13 BPR 24,431 Texts Cited: Heydon and Leeming, Jacobs' Law of Trusts in Australia (6th and 7th edn) Parkinson, "Doing Equity between de facto spouses: From Calverley v Green to Baumgartner" (1988) 11 Adelaide Law Review 370 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Margaret Elderton Anderson Austin (Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant) Gregory Anthony Hornby (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Veronica Margaret Austin (Second Cross-Defendant) Representation: Counsel P J Livingstone (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendants) G P McNally SC with Ms T Gordon (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Solicitors Rafton Family Lawyers ((Plaintiff/Cross-Defendants) Matthews Dooley & Gibson (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) File Number(s): 10/272508