Giuseppe Bonifacio v NSW Trustee and Guardian acting as executor of the Estate of the late Adam Frank Woitala [2015] NSWSC 124

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Giuseppe Bonifacio v NSW Trustee and Guardian acting as executor of the Estate of the late Adam Frank Woitala [2015] NSWSC 124 Hearing dates: 5 February 2015 Date of orders: 27 February 2015 Decision date: 27 February 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Darke J Decision: Plaintiffs' action not maintainable due to operation of Limitation Act 1969 (NSW). Catchwords: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – land held in co-ownership – co-owner fraudulently procures transfer to himself of co-owner's interest – transfer registered in 1995 – by 1998 defrauded party aware of fraud – proceedings not commenced until 2013 – cause of action for recovery of land – whether cause of action does not accrue until fraudster is in adverse possession – whether fraudster in adverse possession – Limitation Act 1969 ss 27, 38, 47 Legislation Cited: Limitation Act 1938 (UK) s 10(1) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) ss 27(2), 38, 47 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) ss 118(1)(d), 138 Real Property Limitation Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will 4, c 27) Cases Cited: Breskvar and Another v Wall and Others [1971] HCA 70; (1971) 126 CLR 376 Chan v Cresdon [1989] HCA 63; (1989) 168 CLR 242 J A Pye (Oxford) Limited v Graham [2003] 1 AC 419 Mulcahy v Curramore Pty Ltd [1974] 2 NSWLR 464 Orr v Ford [1989] HCA 4; (1989) 167 CLR 316 Paradise Beach Transportation Co Ltd v Price-Robinson [1968] AC 1072 Webeck v Foley [1992] NSW Conv R 59, 717; (1992) 5 BPR 11, 694 Weber v Ankin [2008] NSWSC 106 Texts Cited: Peter Butt, Land Law, (6th ed 2010, Thomson Reuters Category: Principal judgment Parties: Giuseppe Bonifacio (first plaintiff) Eva Bonifacio (second plaintiff)