Mohamed v Mohamed [2012] NSWSC 852

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mohamed v Mohamed [2012] NSWSC 852 Hearing dates: 29/05/2012 Decision date: 31 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) The application for judicial review fails. (3) The amended summons filed 3 May 2011 is dismissed. (4) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: APPEAL FROM LOCAL COURT - Magistrate upheld contract between plaintiff and defendant - plaintiff and defendant had been married under Islamic law but not under Australian Law - contract contained clause whereby plaintiff was to pay defendant $50,000 in the event the plaintiff initiated "separation and/or divorce" - Magistrate found contract enforceable - whether error of law - whether jurisdictional error - whether contract against public policy - appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Family Provision Act 1982 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Local Court Act 2007 Property (Relationships) Act 1984 Supreme Court Act 1970 Cases Cited: A v Hayden [1984] HCA 67; (1984) 156 CLR 532 Akileh v Elchahal 666 So 2d 246 (1996) Aziz v Al-Masri (2011) 2011 BCSC 985 Aziz v Aziz 127 Misc 2d 1013; 488 NYS 2d 123 (1985) Be Financial Pty Ltd as Trustee for Be Financial Operations Trust v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 Cattanach v Melchior [2003] HCA 38; (2003) 215 CLR 1 Clair v Munce [2007] NSWSC 419 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (New South Wales) [1982] HCA 24; (1982) 149 CLR 337 Dare v Pulham [1982] HCA 70; (1982) 148 CLR 658 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor Co Ltd [1915] AC 79 Durham v Durham [2011] NSWCA 62 Edwards v Harris [2012] NSWSC 1 Ford v Henry [2009] NSWSC 147 Granatino v Radmacher [2010] UKSC 42; [2011] 1 AC 534 Haque v Haque [1962] HCA 39; (1962) 108 CLR 230 Husain v Hasan (1937) 65 IA 119; (1938) 40 BOMLR 735 Kaddoura v Hammoud [1988] OJ No 5054 Khanis v Noormohamed [2009] OJ No 2245 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission; Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd [2010] HCA 32; (2010) 241 CLR 390 M (NM) v M (NS) [2004] BCLR (4th) 80 Mahony v Industrial Registrar of New South Wales (1986) 8 NSWLR 1 Bruker v Marcovitz [2007] 3 SCR 607 Martin v Kelly [2008] NSWSC 577 Marando v Rizzo [2012] NSWSC 739 Moss v Moss [1912] HCA 90; (1912) 15 CLR 538 Nasin v Nasin (2008) 2008 ABQB 219 Nathoo v Nathoo [1996] BCJ No 2720 O'Sullivan Partners (Advisory) Pty Ltd v Foggo [2012] NSWCA 40 Odatalla v Odatalla 810 A 2d 93 (2002) Shahnaz v Rizwan [1965] 1 QB 390 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council [2005] HCA 4; (2005) 220 CLR 517 Water Board v Moustakas [1988] HCA 12; (1988) 180 CLR 491 Wilkinson v Osborne [1915] HCA 92; (1915) 21 CLR 89 Texts Cited: Ann Black and Kerrie Sadiq, "Good and Bad Sharia: Australia's Mixed Response to Islamic Law" (2011) 17 UNSW Law Journal 82 Encyclopaedic Australian Legal Dictionary Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mostafa Mohamed (Plaintiff) Neima Mohamed (First Defendant) Magistrate Trad (Second Defendant) Representation: J Cohen (Plaintiff) P Lange (First Defendant) Elliot Lawyers (Plaintiff) Farah Lawyers (First Defendant) File Number(s): 2010/332875 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2010-09-10 00:00:00 Before: Trad LCM File Number(s): 2009/380