Coppa v Barnett [2012] NSWSC 490

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Coppa v Barnett [2012] NSWSC 490 Hearing dates: 3 May 2012 Decision date: 14 May 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Stevenson J Decision: Declaration that contract validly terminated by the defendant vendor; application for return of deposit under s 55(2A) of the Conveyancing Act 1919 refused Catchwords: CONVEYANCING - vendor and purchaser - purported rescission of contract by purchaser - whether purchaser became mentally ill - termination of contract by vendor - application for return of deposit Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 Evidence Act 1995 Mental Health Act 2007 Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 Cases Cited: Baird v Chambers [2010] NSWSC 272; (2010) 15 BPR 28,337 Borda v Burgess (2003) 11 BPR 21,203; [2003] NSWSC 1171 Brennan v O'Meara [2009] NSWSC 1374; (2009) 14 BPR 27,441 Havyn Pty Ltd v Webster [2005] NSWCA 182; 12 BPR 22,837 Karfoal Pty Ltd v Lorence [2002] NSWSC 284; (2002) 11 BPR 20,129 Nelson v Bellamy [2000] NSWSC 182; (2000) 10 BPR 19,011 Romanos v Pentagold Investments Pty Limited (2003) 217 CLR 367 Texts Cited: Seddon and Ellinghouse, Cheshire and Fifoot's Law of Contract, 9th Australia ed (2008) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Maria Coppa (also known as Maria Hamilton) by her Tutor Bruce Hamilton (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) Kenneth Barnett (Defendant/Cross Claimant) Representation: F J Berglund (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) J H Stephenson (Defendant/Cross Claimant) Greenaway & Tohme (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) Simpson & Partners (Defendant/Cross Claimant) File Number(s): SC 2011/274182 Publication restriction: Nil