Svenson v Doherty [2014] NSWDC 106

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Svenson v Doherty [2014] NSWDC 106 Decision date: 05 March 2014 Before: Cogswell SC DCJ Decision: Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the sum of $100,570.00. Catchwords: CIVIL LAW - whether money husband advanced to wife amounted to a loan - couple now deceased - absence of direct evidence - onus of proof of loan on plaintiff - plaintiff relied on affidavit and oral evidence of the deceased couple's solicitor - clauses of wife's will consistent with loan - loan repayable on demand - limitation period - whether cause of action confirmed - whether confirmation needs specific words - whether acknowledgment needs to be intended and delivered - action not statute barred. Legislation Cited: Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) ss 11(2), 14(1), 54. Cases Cited: Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386. Hipworth v Mahar (1952) 87 CLR 335; [1952] ALR 633. In re Compania de Electricidad de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Ltd [1980] 1 Ch 146. Norton v Ellam (1837) 2 M & W 463; 150 ER 839. Plunkett v Bull [1915] HCA 544; 19 CLR 544. Sion v NSW Trustee & Guardian [2013] NSWCA 337. The Stage Club Ltd v Millers Hotels Pty Ltd (1981) 150 CLR 535; 38 ALR 253. Young v Queensland Trustees Ltd [1956] HCA 51; 99 CLR 560. Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lloyd Svenson (plaintiff) Deborah Doherty (defendant) Representation: Counsel: L Ellison SC (plaintiff) B Pluznyk (defendant) File Number(s): DC 2013/00068261