Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Salvato (No.4) [2013] NSWSC 321

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Salvato (No.4) [2013] NSWSC 321 Hearing dates: 11/03/2013, 12/03/2013 Decision date: 10 April 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Garling J Decision: (1) Mr Mimmi Salvato is guilty of a contempt of Court in that he was in breach of his undertaking given on 3 December 2012 by failing to give possession of his property to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia . (2) The Notice of Motion filed by Mr Salvato on 11 March 2013 is dismissed. (3) Proceedings adjourned for further directions to 9.30am on Wednesday 17 April 2013. Catchwords: CONTEMPT OF COURT - Undertaking provided to the Court to stay the execution of the Writ of Possession - Whether undertaking was uncertain, unclear and ambiguous - The proper construction, and subsequent effect, of an undertaking - The proper construction of a charge, or order, of contempt of Court - Whether Plaintiff must prove any state of mind or specific intent to disobey order of Court. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Supreme Court Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Anderson v Hassett [2007] NSWSC 1310 Ascot Investments Pty Ltd v Harper [1981] HCA 1; (1981) 148 CLR 337 Athens v Randwick City Council [2005] NSWCA 317; (2005) 64 NSWLR 58 Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 46; (1986) 161 CLR 98 Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Morgan [1965] HCA 21; (1965) 112 CLR 483 Circuit Finance Australia v Sobbi [2010] NSWSC 789 Australia Prudential Regulation Authority v Siminton (No.7) [2007] FCA 1609 Fairclough v Manchester Ship Canal Co [1897] WN 7 In re Mileage Conference Group of the Tyre Manufacturers' Conference Ltd's Agreement [1966] 1 WLR 1137 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Matthews v Australian Securities Investment Commission [2009] NSWCA 155 Metcash Trading Ltd v Bunn (No.5) (2009) FCA 16 Microsoft Corporation v Marks (No.1) (1996) 69 FCR 117 Pang v Bydand Holdings Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 69 Spindler v Balog (1959) 76 WN (NSW) 391 Stancomb v Trowbridge Urban District Council [1910] 2 Ch 190 Steiner Products Ltd v Willy Steiner Ltd [1996] 1 WLR 986 Trade Practices Commission v C G Smith Pty Ltd (1978) 30 FLR 368 Witham v Holloway [1995] HCA 3; (1995) 183 CLR 525 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (P1) CBFC Ltd (P2) Mimmo Salvato (D1) Victoria Salvato (D2) Representation: Counsel: D A McLure (P1) B Galloway (D1) No appearance (D2) Solicitors: Gadens (P1) Hancocks (D1) No appearance (D2) File Number(s): 2011/143979