Virginia Nemeth (by her tutor) v Australian Litigation Funders Pty Ltd and Ors [2013] NSWSC 529

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Virginia Nemeth (by her tutor) v Australian Litigation Funders Pty Ltd and Ors [2013] NSWSC 529 Hearing dates: 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 27 February 2013, oral submissions 2 April 2013, further oral submissions 4 April 2013 Decision date: 09 May 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Sackar J Decision: See paragraph [328]. Catchwords: CONTRACTS - heads of agreement - whether binding arrangement - use of extrinsic evidence in determining formation of contract - construction of contracts - use of extrinsic evidence in construction of contract.

CONTRACTS - relief from obligations - relief under general law and consumer protection legislation from contractual obligations - whether contract is unjust under the Contracts Review Act 1980.

EVIDENCE - admissibility of non-expert evidence as to human condition, personal characteristics and behaviour - assessment of credibility of witness - discretion of judge to accept or reject evidence - whether appointment of tutor affects discretion to make findings as to credibility.

EQUITY - unconscionable conduct - whether defendant engaged in unconscionable conduct at general law.

TRADE AND COMMERCE - trade practices - whether defendant engaged in unconscionable conduct under the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) - whether director of corporate defendants is liable as accessory. Legislation Cited: Fair Trading Act 1987 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Aboody v Ryan [2012] NSWCA 395 Alievski v Cross Country Realty Victoria Pty Ltd [2010] VSC 316 Antonovic v Volker (1986) 7 NSWLR 151 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v C G Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 169 ALR 324 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v C G Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (2003) 214 CLR 51 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Lux Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 926 Bakarich v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2007] NSWCA 169 Azar (by her tutor Ibrahim) v Kathirgamalingan (2012) 62 MVR 462 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon (1991) 22 NSWLR 1 Beneficial Finance Corporation Ltd v Karavas (1991) 23 NSWLR 256 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457 Collier v Morlend Finance Corp (1989) ASC ¶55-176 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Conley v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2000] NSWCA 101 Cordon Investments Pty Ltd v Lesdor Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 184 Cubillo v Commonwealth of Australia (2000) 174 ALR 97 Current Images Pty Ltd v Dupack Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 99 Elkofairi v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd [2002] NSWCA 413 Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Tong (1997) 41 NSWLR 482 Ferdinand Nemeth and Anor v Prynew Pty Limited and Ors [2005] NSWSC 1296 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd [2009] 76 NSWLR 603 Fuji Xerox Finance Limited v CSG Limited & Ors [2012] NSWSC 890 Grace Shipping v Sharp & Co (1987) 1 Lloyds Law Rep at 207 Kowalczuk v Accom Finance Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 343 Legal Services Commissioner v Sing [2007] LPT 4 Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621 McCourt v Cranston [2012] WASCA 60 Mumtaz Properties) v Ahmed and Others [2011] EWCA Civ 610 New South Wales Bar Association v Maddocks [1988] NSWCA 102 Onassis v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyds Rep 403 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Khoshaba [2006] NSWCA 41 Provident Capital Ltd v Papa [2013] NSWCA 36 R v Turner [1975] QB 834 Riz v Perpetual Trustee Australia Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1153 S H Lock (Australia) Ltd v Kennedy (1988) 12 NSWLR 482 Schwartz v Hadid [2013] NSWCA 89 West v AGC (Advances) Ltd and Others (1986) 5 NSWLR 610 Spina v Permanent Custodians Ltd [2009] NSWCA 206 St George Commercial Credit Corporation Ltd v Collins Wallis Properties Pty Ltd (Rolfe J, 11 February 1994, unreported) St George Bank Ltd v Trimarchi [2004] NSWCA 120 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317 Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd v Cauchi (2003) 217 CLR 315 Tonto Home Loans Australia Pty Ltd v Tavares [2011] NSWCA 389 Transport Publishing Co Pty Ltd v The Literature Board of Review (1956) 99 CLR 111 Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd (2011) 282 ALR 604 Texts Cited: Lord Bingham, The Judge as Juror: The Judicial Determination of Factual Issues (2000) Oxford University Press Honourable Justice P A Bergin, "Judicial Mediation Problems and Solutions", (2011) The Judicial Review 305 J R Peden, The Law of Unjust Contracts, (1982) Butterworths Sir Owen Dixon, Jesting Pilate, (1965) The Law Book Company Ltd Category: Principal judgment Parties: Virginia Diroy Nemeth (by her tutor Salwa Elias) (Plaintiff) Australian Litigation Funders Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Australian Corporate Restructuring Services Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) James Byrnes (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Newlinds SC, J Muir (Plaintiff) B A Coles QC, A Horvath (Defendants) Solicitors: Coleman Greig Lawyers (Plaintiff) HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 2011/44884