Abraham v Abraham [2015] NSWSC 785

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Abraham v Abraham [2015] NSWSC 785 Hearing dates: 23 February 2015 Date of orders: 19 June 2015 Decision date: 19 June 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Lindsay J Decision: (1) Order that the defendant pay interest accrued on a judgment debt; (2) Order that the parties' competing motions otherwise be dismissed; (3) A limited order for costs in favour of the plaintiffs Catchwords: JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS – Judgment debt – Interest accrued on judgment debt by operation of Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW s 101 – Obligation to pay interest not penal

EQUITY – Penalty – Judgments and orders – Judgment debt, with statutory interest accruing – Judgment by consent – Contract of compromise – Interpretation – Obligation to pay interest not penal

INTEREST – Agreements to pay interest – Award of interest on debts and sums certain - Judgment debt – Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW s 101 – Obligation to pay interest not penal Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW Supreme Court Act 1970 NSW Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 NSW Cases Cited: AMEV-UDC Finance Limited v Austen (1986) 162 CLR 170 at 175, 190-194 and 203 Andrews v ANZ Banking Group Limited (2012) 247 CLR 205, 216[10] Citicorp Australia Limited v Hendry (1985) 4 NSWLR 1 at 39-40 Harvey v Hall (1873) LR 16 Eq 324 Harvey v Phillips (1956) 95 CLR 235 at 242-244 In the matter of Prismex Technologies Pty Limited; Colin Lindsay Taggert v John Matyear [2013] NSWSC 292 at [39]-[63] Lachlan v HP Mercantile Pty Limited [2015] NSWCA 130 at [20]-[21] Mullins v Howell (1879) 11 Ch DIV 763 Newcrest Mining Ltd v Thornton (2012) 248 CLR 555 at 564[17] and 571[35). O'Dea v All States Leasing System (WA) Pty Limited (1983) 152 CLR 359 at 367 Paino v Hoffbauer (1988) 13 NSWLR 193 at 198); Purcell v FC Triggell Limited [1971] 1QB 358 Ramsey v Ramsey [1983] FLC 91-301 Thwaite v Thwaite [1981] 3 WLR 96 Category: Principal judgment Parties: First Plaintiff: Debbie Abraham Second Plaintiff: Taxi Care Service Pty Limited ACN 086 278 999 First Defendant: Charles John Abraham Second Defendant: WS Grice Pty Ltd ACN 000 399 459 Third Defendant: Melaka Pty Ltd ACN 001 601 001 Representation: Counsel: Plaintiffs: JC Kelly SC Defendants: VRL Gray