Gordon Salier v Robert Angius [2015] NSWSC 853

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gordon Salier v Robert Angius [2015] NSWSC 853 Hearing dates: 9 and 10 June 2015 Decision date: 01 July 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Ball J Decision: See paragraph 94 of this judgment. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – Wills, probate and administration – Construction and effect of testamentary dispositions – General principles for construction of a will – Will written in a foreign language – Whether it is open to the Court to receive expert evidence regarding the correct meaning of the will where an English translation is annexed to the Letters of Administration – Where better copy of the will made available to the Court during the course of the hearing Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Coorey v George (Supreme Court of NSW, Powell J, 27 February 1986, unreported) Crumpe v Crumpe [1900] AC 127 Estate of Laura Angius; Angius v Angius [2013] NSWSC 1895 Fell v Fell (1922) 31 CLR 268 Hendry v The Perpetual Executors and Trustees Association of Australia Ltd (1961) 106 CLR 256 In re Manners; Manners v Manners [1923] Ch D 220 Kobras v Lutheran Church of Australia Inc [2005] NSWSC 817 Langston v Langston (1834) 2 Cl & Fin 194; (1834) 6 ER 1128 Muir v Winn [2009] NSWSC 857 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Wright (1987) 9 NSWLR 18 Perrin v Morgan [1943] 1 All ER 187 Texts Cited: G L Certoma, The Law of Succession in New South Wales (4th ed, 2010, Law Book Co) R Kerridge, Hawkins on the Construction of Wills (5th ed, 2000, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gordon A Salier AM (Plaintiff) Robert Angius (First Defendant) John Angius (Second Defendant) Jenny Angius (Third Defendant) Sean Batten (Fourth Defendant) Gabrielle Angius (Fifth Defendant) Sydney Children's Hospital (Sixth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M S Willmott SC (Plaintiff) Ms V Culkoff (First Defendant) P O'Loughlin (Second Defendant) M Gorrick (Third Defendant)