Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v Cox [2014] NSWCA 328

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v Cox [2014] NSWCA 328 Hearing dates: 15 August 2014 Decision date: 18 September 2014 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Emmett JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [9] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. Cross-appeal dismissed. 3. Perpetual to pay the costs of Mr and Mrs Cox in this Court. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: APPEALS - challenge to primary judge's findings of fact - whether findings glaringly improbable - whether open to primary judge to determine allegation of forgery on onus MORTGAGES - forged direction to disburse funds - whether obligation to repay extended to sums disbursed pursuant to forged direction PRINCIPAL AND AGENT - ratification - whether ratification where no knowledge of forged direction Legislation Cited: Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), ss 3, 57(2)(b) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 87 Cases Cited: Beaufort Developments (NI) Ltd v Gilbert-Ash NI Ltd [1999] 1 AC 266 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Bunnings Group Ltd v Borg [2014] NSWCA 240 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing & Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2007] FCAFC 132; 162 FCR 466 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; 88 ALJR 447 English Scottish & Australian Bank Ltd v Phillips (1937) 57 CLR 302 Fast Fix Loans Pty Ltd v Samardzic [2011] NSWCA 260; 15 BPR 29,445 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Leyborne v Permanent Custodians Ltd [2010] NSWCA 78 Minogue v Rudd [2013] NSWCA 345 Mitchell Morgan Nominees Pty Ltd v Vella [2011] NSWCA 390 Monie v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWCA 25; 63 NSWLR 729 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 67 ALJR 170 Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v English [2010] NSWCA 32 Printy v Provident Capital Limited [2007] NSWSC 287 Provident Capital Ltd v Papa [2013] NSWCA 36; 84 NSWLR 231 Provident Capital Ltd v Printy [2008] NSWCA 131 Puglia v RHG Mortgage Corporation Ltd [2013] WASCA 143 RPS v The Queen [2000] HCA 3; 199 CLR 620 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: J Stoljar, "Mortgages, indefeasibility and personal covenants to pay" (2008) 82 ALJ 28 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd (Appellant) Raymond Allan Cox (1st Respondent) Susan Jane Cox (2nd Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Docker / J Mack (Appellant) R McKeand SC (1st and 2nd Respondents) Solicitors: Kemp Strang Lawyers Creagh Lisle Solicitors File Number(s): 2013/374918 Decision under appeal Citation: [2013] NSWSC 1583 Date of Decision: 2013-10-31 00:00:00 Before: Johnson J File Number(s): 2009/294831