Murtagh v Murtagh [2013] NSWSC 926

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Murtagh v Murtagh [2013] NSWSC 926 Hearing dates: 11, 12 June 2013 Decision date: 12 July 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Hallen J Decision: The parties to bring in Short Minutes of Order to reflect the reasons for the decision and the calculations for the amount to constitute the charge, in favour of the Defendant, on the Plaintiff's share of the proceeds of sale of the Clovelly unit. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY - Co-ownership by siblings - application for appointment of statutory trustee for sale - adjustment of interests - Contributions made.

EQUITY - Trusts - resulting trust - presumption of resulting trust based on contributions to purchase price - no presumption of advancement - presumption of resulting trust rebutted where parties have agreed on beneficial interest at time of purchase - whether any agreement - joint mortgagors - effect of substantial contribution to mortgage repayment - Whether beneficial interests according to contributions

EQUITY - Trusts - constructive trust - application to family relationship - Whether party adequately compensated by a right to contribution and equitable charge. Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 Fair Trading Act 1987 Real Property Act 1900 Trade Practices Act 1974 Cases Cited: Baumgartner v Baumgartner [1987] HCA 59; (1987) 164 CLR 137 Black Uhlans Inc v New South Wales Crime Commission [2002] NSWSC 1060; (2012) 12 BPR 22,421 Callow v Rupchev [2009] NSWCA 148 Calverley v Green [1984] HCA 81; (1984) 155 CLR 242 Cetojevic v Cetejovic [2006] NSWSC 431 Cummins (a bankrupt), Trustees of the Property of v Cummins [2006] HCA 6; (2006) 227 CLR 278 Currie v Hamilton (1984) 1 NSWLR 687 Harbour Port Consulting v NSW Maritime [2011] NSWSC 813 Ingram v Ingram [1941] VLR 95; [1941] VicLawRp 20 Little v Little (1985) 15 NSWLR 43 Ly v Ly [2012] NSWSC 643; (2012) 16 BPR 31,649 McKay v McKay [2008] NSWSC 177 Muschinski v Dodds [1985] HCA 78; (1985) 160 CLR 583 Neilson v Letch (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 254 Payne v Rowe [2012] NSWSC 685 Pennimpede v Pennimpede [2010] NSWCA 121 Pennimpede v Pennimpede [2009] NSWSC 85 Russell v Russell [1924] A.C. 687 Ryan v Dries [2002] NSWCA 3; (2002) 10 BPR 19,497 Ryan v Ryan [2012] NSWSC 636 Silvester v Sands [2004] WASC 266 Warner v Hung; Bellpac Pty Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) (No. 2), Re [2011] FCA 1123; (2011) 297 ALR 56 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: 'Truth and the Law', Chief Justice J Spigelman (Speech delivered at the 2011 Sir Maurice Byers Lecture, 26 May 2011) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Therese Carmel Murtagh (Plaintiff) Michael Kevin Murtagh (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms D Reid (Plaintiff) Mr J Sleight (Defendant) Solicitors: M. Duncan & Associates Lawyers (Plaintiff) Neville & Hourn Legal (Defendant) File Number(s): 2012/207816