SingTel Optus Pty Limited & Ors v Weston [2012] NSWSC 674

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SingTel Optus Pty Limited & Ors v Weston [2012] NSWSC 674 Hearing dates: 5, 6, 7, 8, 22 March 2012 and 26 April 2012 Decision date: 19 June 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Corporations List Before: Bergin CJ in Eq Decision: Order for removal of special purpose liquidator Catchwords: [LIQUIDATORS] - Application to remove special purpose liquidator under s 503 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Cases Cited: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Commission v Jurnkurakurr Aboriginal Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation (in liq) (1992) 10 ACSR 121 Adsett v Berlouis and Others (1992) 37 FCR 201; (1992) 109 ALR 100 AMP Music Box Enterprises Ltd v Hoffman and Another [2002] BCC 996 Apple Computer Australia Pty Ltd v Wiley (2003) 46 ACSR 729; [2003] NSWSC 719 Application of Weston [2011] NSWCA 250 ASIC v Rich [2009] NSWSC 1229; (2009) 236 FLR 1 City & Suburban Pty Ltd and Others v Smith (as liquidator of Conpac (Aust) Pty Ltd (in liq)) and Another (1998) 28 ACSR 328 Clutha Ltd (in liq) v Millar and Others (No 5) (2003) 43 ACSR 295; [2002] NSWSC 833 Commissioner for Corporate Affairs v Peter William Harvey [1980] VR 669 Domino Hire Pty Ltd v Pioneer Park Pty Ltd (in liq) (2000) 18 ACLC 13; [1999] NSWSC 1046 Domino Hire Pty Ltd v Pioneer Park Pty Ltd (in liq) (2003) 21 ACLC 1330; [2003] NSWSC 496 Independent Cement and Lime Pty Ltd v Brick and Block Co Ltd (in liq) (recs and mgrs appted) and Others (2010) 267 ALR 613; [2010] FCA 352 In re Adam Eyton Ltd; Ex parte Charlesworth (1887) 36 Ch D 299 In re Contract Corporation (1871-72) LR 7 Ch App 207 ('Gooch's Case') In re George A Bond & Co Ltd (1932) 32 SR (NSW) 301 In re Marseilles Extension Railway and Land Co (1867) LR 4 Eq 692 In the matter of Cobar Mines Pty Ltd (in liquidation); Hall as liquidator of Cobar Mines Pty Ltd (Unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Santow J, 22 June 1998) McGrath & Anor re HIH Insurance Ltd & Ors [2006] NSWSC 385 McAuliffe v Lidia Perin Memorial Hospital Pty Ltd (2006) 58 ACSR 666; [2006] ACTSC 88 Multi-Core Aerators Limited v Dye and Rennie [1999] VSC 205 Northbuild Construction Pty Ltd v ACN 103 753 484 Pty Ltd (2008) 26 ACLC 893; [2008] QSC 182 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd v One.Tel Ltd (2003) 48 ACSR 562; [2003] NSWSC 1228 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd and Another v One.Tel Ltd (in liq) and Others (2006) 57 ACSR 279; [2006] NSWSC 349 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd and Others v One.Tel Ltd (in liq) and Others (2006) 58 ACSR 466; [2006] NSWSC 815 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd v One.Tel Ltd (in liq) and Others (2006) 61 ACSR 236; [2006] NSWSC 1434 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd & Ors v One.Tel Limited (In Liquidation) & Ors [2006] NSWSC 1447 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd and Others v One.Tel Ltd and Others (2008) 69 ACSR 290; [2008] NSWSC 1335 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd v One.Tel Ltd [2009] NSWSC 822 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd v One.Tel Ltd [2009] NSWSC 865 Onefone Australia Pty Limited and Others v One.Tel Ltd (in liq) and Others; Re Appln Weston (2009) 74 ACSR 716; [2009] NSWSC 1231 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd and Others v One.Tel Limited and Others (2010) 78 ACSR 98; [2010] NSWSC 401 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd and Others v One.Tel Ltd and Others (2010) 80 ACSR 11; [2010] NSWSC 1120 Re Biposo Pty Ltd; Condon v Rodgers (1995) 120 FLR 399 Re Edennote Ltd; Tottenham Hostpur plc and others v Ryman and another [1996] 2 BCLC 389 Re Giant Resources Ltd [1991] 1 Qd R 107 Re Keypak Homecare Ltd [1987] BCLC 409; (1987) 3 BCC 558 Re Obie Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 3) (1984) 8 ACLR 774 Re Walker and Another (in their capacity as joint liquidators of One.Tel Ltd) (2009) 262 ALR 150; [2009] NSWSC 1172 Tracker Software International Inc v Smith (1997) 24 ACSR 644 Weston (in his capacity as special purpose liquidator of One.Tel (in liq) and Another v Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd (now known as Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd) and Others (2011) 83 ACSR 206; [2011] NSWSC 433 Weston in Capacity as Special Purpose Liquidator of One.Tel Ltd (in liquidation) v Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd [2012] NSWCA 79 Texts Cited: BH McPherson and J O'Donovan (ed), McPherson's Law of Company Liquidation (Thomson LawBook Co., 3rd ed, 1987) Category: Principal judgment Parties: SingTel Optus Pty Limited (1st Plaintiff) Optus Networks Pty Limited (2nd Plaintiff) Optus Mobile Pty Limited (3rd Plaintiff) Optus Vision Pty Limited (4th Plaintiff) Optus Insurance Services Pty Limited (5th Plaintiff) Paul Gerard Weston (Defendant) Representation: JC Sheahan SC/ RCA Higgins (Plaintiffs) N Cotman SC/R Glasson (Defendant) Baker & McKenzie (Plaintiffs) O'Neill Partners (Defendant) File Number(s): 2010/71799