Grant v YYH Holdings Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 360

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Grant v YYH Holdings Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 360 Hearing dates: 25 October 2012 Decision date: 09 November 2012 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Basten JA at [65]; Tobias AJA at [98] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: TORTS - conversion and detinue - action to recover sheep - where tortfeasor bred progeny from sheep - where plaintiffs' title extinguished by operation of Limitation Act 1969, s 65 - whether plaintiffs' title to progeny also extinguished

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - conversion and detinue - whether claim statute barred - where title to sheep extinguished pursuant to Limitation Act, s 65 - whether cause of action to recover progeny a further cause of action for the conversion or detention of the original sheep and not maintainable by operation of Limitation Act, s 21

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - conversion and detinue - burden of proof in respect of limitation defence - where defendant pleads proceedings not maintainable by operation of Limitation Act, s 14(1)(b) and plaintiffs' title to goods extinguished by operation of Limitation Act, s 65 Legislation Cited: Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), s 270.3 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 14, 21, 65, 68A Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth), ss 10, 31 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 14.14, 14.27 Cases Cited: Big Top Hereford Pty Ltd v Gavin Thomas as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estate of Douglas Keith Tyler [2006] NSWSC 1159 Borg v Howlett [1996] NSWSC 153; (1996) 8 BPR 15,535 Buckley v Buckley, Administratrix of the Estate of Henry A Buckley, deceased 12 Nev. 423, 1877 WL 4371 (Nev.) Bunnings Group Ltd v CHEP Australia Ltd [2011] NSWCA 342 Case of Swans [1572] EngR 403; (1572) 7 Co Rep 15b; 77 ER 435 CHEP Australia Limited v Bunnings Group Limited [2010] NSWSC 301 Clayton v Le Roy [1911] 2 KB Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; (1986) 162 CLR 1 Forbes v Cochrane (1824) 107 ER 450 Gaba Formwork Contractors Pty Ltd v Turner Corp Ltd (1991) 32 NSWLR 175 Greenwood v Bennett [1973] 1 QB 195 Hill v Reglon Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 295 John F Goulding Pty Ltd v Victorian Railways Commissioners [1932] HCA 37; (1932) 48 CLR 157 Jones v De Marchant (1916) 28 DLR 561 Lloyd v Osborne (1899) 20 LR (NSW) 190 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA; 175 CLR 1 McKeown v Cavalier Yachts Pty Ltd (1988) 13 NSWLR 303 Miller v Dell [1891] 1 QB 468 Pearne v Lisle (1749) Amb 75 (at 76 - 77); (1749) EngR 142; 27 ER 47 Penfolds Wines Pty Ltd v Elliott (1946) 74 CLR 204 Philpott v Kelley (1835) 3 Ad & El 106; (1835) 111 ER 353 Pratten v Pratten [2005] QCA 213 Pullen v Gutteridge Haskins & Davey Pty Ltd [1993] 1 VR 27 R v Tang [2008] HCA 39; (2008) 237 CLR 1 Sandeman & Sons v Tyzack & Branfoot Steamship Co Ltd [1913] AC 680 Santos v Illidge (1860) 141 ER 681 Santos v Illidge (1860) 141 ER 1404 Seay v Bacon (1856) 4 Sneed (TN) 99, 36 Tenn. 99 (Tenn.), 1856 WL 2500 (Tenn.) Somerset v Stewart (1772) Lofft 1; (1772) 20 State Tr 1; (1772) 98 ER 499 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 Tucker v Farm & General Investment Trust Ltd [1966] 2 QB 421 (at 426, 430, 431) University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; (1985) 59 ALJR 481 Yanner v Eaton [1999] HCA 53; (1999) 201 CLR 351 Texts Cited: Andrew McGee, Limitation Periods, 6th ed (2007) Sweet & Maxwell at [21.010]ff