Steiner & Anor v Strang & Anor; Estate of Steiner Steiner v Strang & Anor Webster v Strang & Anor [2012] NSWSC 919

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Steiner & Anor v Strang & Anor; Estate of Steiner Steiner v Strang & Anor Webster v Strang & Anor [2012] NSWSC 919 Hearing dates: 16 July 2012 Decision date: 14 August 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Probate List Before: White J Decision: Refer to para [31] of reasons. Catchwords: WILLS, PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION - administrators and executors - application for appointment as administrator of part of deceased's estate - appointment sought as administrators with authority to commence and maintain legal proceedings in the USA for the benefit of the estate - whether grant of administration confers power on executor or administrator to deal with foreign assets - grant of administration is local - jurisdiction to appoint receivers to foreign asset - held not in interests of estate for proposed litigation in USA to be instituted - Court needs to be satisfied that persons appointed are fit and proper for the task - held appointment of receivers not in interests of estate

WILLS, PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION - orders sought for interim distribution out of estate - whether there are sufficient funds in the estate with which to pay all pecuniary legacies - Court satisfied that distributions could safely be made - interim family provision orders pursuant to s 92A of the Succession Act not made - orders made pursuant to s 84 of the Probate and Administration Act or r 54.3(3)(d) or r 54.3(4)(b) of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules Legislation Cited: Probate and Administration Act 1898 Succession Act 2006 Cases Cited: Blackwood v R (1882-83) 8 App Cas 82 Cole v Muddle (1852) 10 Hare 186; 68 ER 892 Attorney-General v Schonfeld [1980] 1 WLR 1182; 3 All ER 1 Yunghanns v Candoora No. 19 Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2000] VSC 300; (2000) 35 ACSR 34 Ballabil Holdings Pty Ltd v Hospital Products Limited (1985) 1 NSWLR 155 Re Maudslay, Sons & Field [1900] 1 Ch 602 Tracy v Mandalay Pty Ltd [1953] HCA 9; (1953) 88 CLR 215 Daly v Sydney Stock Exchange Ltd [1986] HCA 25; (1986) 160 CLR 371 Romano v Romano [2004] NSWSC 775 Indyk v Wiernik [2006] NSWSC 868 Texts Cited: Halsbury's Laws of Australia, Vol 23 Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Steiner (Plaintiff 2012/215729 and 2012/185566) Robyn Gai Webster (2nd Plaintiff 2012/215729 & Plaintiff 2012/129833) Kenneth Ross Strang (1st Defendant 2012/215729; 2012/185566; and 2012/129833) Jason Tang (2nd Defendant 2012/215729; 2012/185566; and 2012/129833) Representation: Counsel: R M Jefferis (Plaintiff 2012/215729 and 2012/185566) G R Graham (Plaintiff 2012/129833) L Ellison SC (Defendants) Solicitors: Gells Lawyers (Plaintiffs) Glass Goodwin (Defendants) File Number(s): 2012/215729; 2012/185566; 2012/129833