Bull v The Australian Quarter Horse Association [2014] NSWSC 1665

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bull v The Australian Quarter Horse Association [2014] NSWSC 1665 Hearing dates: 3, 4, 5, 6 March 2014; 14 and 15 July 2014;Last submissions filed on 3 September 2014 Decision date: 26 November 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Hallen J Decision: Direct the parties to bring in Short Minutes of Order reflecting these reasons for judgment within 7 days. The orders should include an order for the return of the exhibits and the Court Books. Stand over the proceedings to a date to be agreed to deal with any outstanding argument on the form of the Short Minutes of Order and costs. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS - Construction of Company's Constitution and Regulations - Company limited by guarantee - Aims and Objects - Application for registration of a cloned horse - Management and administration of corporation - Power of court to rectify corporate acts which are taken in contravention of corporate constitution - Resolutions passed by Board without proper notice - Validity of purported resolutions - Whether procedural irregularity under s 1322 - Validating orders - Whether substantial injustice - Oppression of single member - s 232 of Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Sherman Antitrust Act 1890 (15 USC § 1-2) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Abraham & Veneklasen Joint Venture, Abraham Equine Inc. and Jason Abraham v American Quarter Horse Association, No. 2:12-CV-103-J (N.D. Tex. July 12, 2012) Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha Ltd v Tomar (No 6) [2013] FCA 284; (2013) 300 ALR 492 ASC v Multiple Sclerosis Society (Tas) (1993) 10 ACSR 489 Australian Hydrocarbons NL v Green (1985) 10 ACLR 72 Australian Innovation Ltd v Petrovsky (1996) 14 ACLC 1357 Beck v LW Furniture Consolidated (Aust) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 76; (2012) 265 FLR 60 Broadway Motors Holdings Pty Ltd (In Liq), Re (1986) 6 NSWLR 45 Cameron v Hogan [1934] HCA 24; (1934) 51 CLR 358 Catalano v Managing Australia Destinations Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 55 Caysand No 64 Pty Ltd, Re [1994] 2 Qd R 467 Charter Hall Ltd, Re [2007] FCA 1316 Cordiant Communications (Australia) Pty Ltd v Communications Group Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1005; (2005) 194 FLR 322 Dixon v Australian Society of Accountants (1989) 95 FLR 231; 87 ACTR 1 Dome Resources NL v Silver [2008] NSWCA 322 Elderslie Finance Corporation Ltd v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 11 ACSR 157 Elemental Minerals Ltd, In the matter of Elemental Minerals Ltd [2010] FCA 687 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd [1998] NSWSC 413; (1998) 28 ACSR 688 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 97; (2001) 37 ACSR 672 Giga Investments Pty Ltd (In Administration), Re (1995) 17 ACSR 472 Hollen Australia Pty Ltd, Re [2009] VSC 95 Holmes v Keyes [1959] Ch 199 Howard v Mechtler [1999] NSWSC 232 Howard-Smith v Ampol Limited [1974] AC 821; (1974) 3 ALR 448 H&P Newcastle Pty Ltd (in liquidation), Re [2013] NSWSC 778 In the matter of Richardson & Wrench Holdings Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1990 Jordan v Avram (1997) 25 ACSR 153; (1997) 141 FLR 275 Lu v Hua Cheng International Holdings Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 228. McLaughlin v Dungowan Manly Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 187 Morgan v 45 Flers Avenue Pty Ltd (1986) 10 ACLR 692 Nassar v Innovative Precasters Group Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 342; (2009) 71 ACSR 343 National Roads and Motorists' Association Ltd v Parkin [2004] NSWCA 153; (2004) 60 NSWLR 224 Oil Basins Limited v Bass Strait Oil Company [2012] FCA 1122 Pettit v South Australian Harness Racing Club Inc [2006] SASC 306 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL [1994] HCA 4; (1994) 179 CLR 332 Sheahan v Londish [2010] NSWCA 270 Shew v Police and Citizens Youth Club [2013] NTSC 15 Simon v HPM Industries Pty Ltd (1989) 15 ACLR 427 St George Soccer Football Association Inc v Soccer NSW Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1288 Stanham v The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) (1989) 15 ACLR 87 Super John Pty Ltd v Futuris Rural Pty Ltd [1999] NSWSC 627 Sutherland Shire Council v Leyendekkers [1970] 1 NSWR 356 Thomas v HW Thomas Ltd [1984] 1 NZLR 686 Tomanovic v Argyle HQ Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 152 Turnbull v NRMA [2004] NSWSC 577; (2004) 50 ACSR 44 Union Club v Lord Andrew Charles Robert Battenberg [2006] NSWCA 72 Wayde v New South Wales Rugby League Ltd [1985] HCA 68; (1985) 180 CLR 459 Weinstock v Beck [2013] HCA 14; (2013) 297 ALR 1 William Buck (WA) Pty Ltd v Faulkner (No 6) [2013] WASC 342 Zusman v Royal Western Australian Bowling Association (Inc) [1999] WASC 86 Texts Cited: Shorter Oxford Dictionary Category: Principal judgment Parties: Richard David Bull (Plaintiff) The Australian Quarter Horse Association ACN 000 964 643 (first Defendant) Peter John Bellden (second Defendant) Patricia Sharon Wettenhall (third Defendant) Terrence John McSweeney (fourth Defendant) Simon Julian Myers (fifth Defendant) Wendy Kim Johnson (sixth Defendant) Elizabeth Keating (seventh Defendant) Peter Stuart-Fox (eighth Defendant) Pauline Stuart-Fox (ninth Defendant) Carol Ann Ahern (tenth Defendant) Paul Lorimor (eleventh Defendant) Carol Ricketts (twelfth Defendant) Glenn Ricky Noble (thirteenth Defendant) Harry Van Dyk (fourteenth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A J McInerney SC; Ms S Clemmett (Plaintiff) Mr G Craddock SC (Defendants) Solicitors: Zucker Legal (Plaintiff) Gilchrist Connell (Defendants) File Number(s): 2012/380371