Ashton v Pratt [2015] NSWCA 12

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ashton v Pratt [2015] NSWCA 12 Hearing dates: 15 - 16 September 2014 Decision date: 16 February 2015 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; McColl JA at [222]; Meagher JA at [223] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. Appellant to pay the costs of the first respondent. 3. Grant liberty to the first respondent to apply for an order for costs against the second and third respondents within seven days. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – intention – family arrangements - whether intention to create legal relations in a domestic or social context – role of presumptions

CONTRACTS – intention to create legal relations – objective test – oral agreement – imprecise terms - language of obligation – nature of arrangement – where some obligations unenforceable

CONTRACTS – certainty – imprecise terms – language of obligation

CONTRACTS – accord and satisfaction – release – whether there was an offer and acceptance

CONTRACTS – unconscionability – unfair or oppressive conduct – whether evidence of undue pressure

EQUITY – estoppel - assumption or representation – degree of certainty required – nature of transaction - domestic or commercial

EQUITY - estoppel – promissory estoppel – whether must be defensive or negative in substance

EQUITY – estoppel – detriment – whether any detrimental reliance – nature of promises

EQUITY – trusts – intention to create a trust – whether fiduciary obligation breached

APPEAL – civil – rejection of evidence at trial – whether trial judge erred - deference to trial judge – advantage of seeing witness Legislation Cited: Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) Judicature Act 1873 (36 & 37 Vict c. 66) Local Government Act 1919 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ashton v Pratt (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 3 Associated Alloys Pty Limited v ACN 001 452 106 Pty Limited (In Liquidation) [2000] HCA 25; (2000) 202 CLR 588 Austotel Pty Ltd v Franklins SelfServe Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 582 Australian Financial Services and Leasing Pty Ltd v Hills Industries Ltd [2014] HCA 14; (2014) 88 ALJR 552 Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) [1988] HCA 16; (1988) 164 CLR 604 Ballantyne v Phillott [1961] HCA 17; (1961) 105 CLR 379 Ballas v Theophilos (No 2) [1957] HCA 90; (1957) 98 CLR 193 Baloglow v Konstantinidis [2001] NSWCA 451; (2001) 11 BPR 20,721 Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1988) 15 NSWLR 130 Byrnes v Kendle [2011] HCA 26; (2011) 243 CLR 253 Cobbe v Yeoman's Row Management Ltd [2008] 1 WLR 1752 Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Doueihi & 4 Ors [2014] NSWSC 1717 Darmanin v Cowan [2010] NSWSC 1118 Delaforce v Simpson-Cook [2010] NSWCA 84; (2010) 78 NSWLR 483 DHJPM Pty Ltd v Blackthorn Resources Ltd [2011] NSWCA 348; (2011) 83 NSWLR 728 Dillwyn v Llewelyn (1862) 4 De Gex, Fisher & Jones 517; 45 ER 1285 Donis v Donis [2007] VSCA 89; (2007) 19 VR 577 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc [2002] HCA 8; (2002) 209 CLR 95 Evans v Secretary, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs [2012] FCAFC 81; (2012) 289 ALR 237 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Gillett v Holt [2001] Ch 210 Giumelli v Giumelli [1999] HCA 10; (1999) 196 CLR 101 Grant v John Grant & Sons Proprietary Limited [1954] HCA 23; (1954) 91 CLR 112 Grundt v The Great Boulder Proprietary Gold Mines Limited [1937] HCA 58;(1937) 59 CLR 641 In re Schebsman; Ex parte The Official Receiver, The Trustee v Cargo Superintendents (London) Limited and Schebsman [1944] Ch 83 JC Williamson Limited v Lukey and Mulholland [1931] HCA 15; (1931) 45 CLR 282 Khoury v Khouri [2006] NSWCA 184; (2006) 66 NSWLR 241 McDermott v Black [1940] HCA 4; (1940) 63 CLR 161 Meehan v Jones [1982] HCA 52; (1982) 149 CLR 571 Mobil Oil Australia Ltd v Wellcome International Pty Ltd (1998) 81 FCR 475 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 218 CLR 451 Placer Development Limited v Commonwealth [1969] HCA 29; (1969) 121 CLR 353 Popiw v Popiw [1959] VR 197 Riches v Hogben [1985] 2 Qd R 292 Saleh v Romanous [2010] NSWCA 274; (2010) 79 NSWLR 453 Sidhu v Van Dyke [2014] HCA 19; (2014) 251 CLR 505 Silovi Pty Ltd v Barbaro (1988) 13 NSWLR 466 Sir J W Ramsden v Lee Dyson and Joseph Thornton (1866) LR 1 HL 129 Sion v NSW Trustee & Guardian [2013] NSWCA 337 S&E Promotions Pty Ltd v Tobin Brothers Pty Ltd (1994) 122 ALR 637 The Commercial Bank of Australia Limited v Amadio [1983] HCA 14; (1983) 151 CLR 447 The Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen [1990] HCA 39; (1990) 170 CLR 394 The Council of the Upper Hunter County District v Australian Chilling and Freezing Co Limited [1968] HCA 8; (1968) 118 CLR 429 Thorner v Major [2009] 1 WLR 776 Vandervell v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1967] 2 AC 291 Vroon BV v Foster's Brewing Group Ltd [1994] VR 32 Walton v Walton [1994] CA Transcript No 479 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Limited v Maher [1988] HCA 7; (1988) 164 CLR 387 Wigan v Edwards (1973) 47 ALJR 586 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Madison Ashton (Appellant) Jeanne Pratt (First respondent) Indra Heslop-Blochowiak (Second respondent) Xavier Conor Heslop-Kelly (Third respondent) Representation: Counsel: G O'L Reynolds SC / R K Newton / D W Robertson (Appellant) M S Henry SC / J L Roy (First respondent) J Hewitt (Second and third respondents)