ASF Resources Ltd v Clarke [2014] NSWSC 252

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: ASF Resources Ltd v Clarke [2014] NSWSC 252 Hearing dates: 8 November and 13 December 2013 Decision date: 13 March 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Kunc J Decision: Motion to strike out dismissed; leave to amend defence granted Catchwords: PRACTICE - Pleadings - Strike out - Whether statutory defence adequately pleaded - Whether "apportionable claim" where negligence not part of plaintiffs' case - Cheques Act 1986 (Cth), s 95(1) - Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 34(1) Legislation Cited: Cheques Act 1986 (Cth) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde [2000] HCA 41; (2000) 201 CLR 552 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2006] HCA 27; (2006) 226 CLR 256 Commissioners of Taxation v English, Scottish & Australian Bank Ltd [1920] AC 683 Dartberg Pty Ltd v Wealthcare Financial Planning Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1216; (2007) 164 FCR 450 General Steel Industries Inc v Commission for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 Hunt & Hunt Lawyers v Mitchell Morgan Nominees Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] HCA 23; (2013) 247 CLR 656 Oris Funds Management Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [2005] VSCA 148; (2005) 14 VR 189 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v CTC Group Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWCA 58 Reinhold v New South Wales Lotteries Corporation (No 2) [2008] NSWSC 187; (2008) 82 NSWLR 762 Wickstead v Browne (1992) 30 NSWLR 1 Texts Cited: L Warnick, "Proportionate Liability in the High Court" (2013) 87 ALJ 864 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: ASF Resources Ltd (First Plaintiff) ASF Kaili Resource Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) ASF Energy Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff) Justin Douglas Clarke (First Defendant) Nicole Voychack Harcourt (Second Defendant) Diverse Invest Group Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Noonkanbah Pty Ltd (Fourth Defendant) EHSIS Investment Pty Ltd (Fifth Defendant) National Australia Bank Limited (Sixth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: - Plaintiff A J McInerney SC D J Barnett - Sixth Defendant P W Taylor SC G Lucarelli Solicitors: - Plaintiff McLachlan Thorpe Partners - Sixth Defendant DibbsBarker Lawyers File Number(s): 2013/127680 Publication restriction: None