Rayhill v W O’Connor Removals Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1113

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Rayhill v W O'Connor Removals Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1113 Hearing dates: 23 July 2015 Date of orders: 11 August 2015 Decision date: 11 August 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Fagan J Decision: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) The Plaintiff is to pay the costs of the proceedings in this Court of Mr SG Condon as Trustee for the Bankrupt Estate of Colleen Anne Rayhill. Catchwords: PROPERTY – bankruptcy – competing claims of ownership – whether property vested in trustee – possession – inference of ownership EVIDENCE – failure to call witness – whether Jones v Dunkel inference applicable EVIDENCE – witness – cross examination – rule in Browne v Dunn – whether failure to challenge evidence in cross-examination precluded reliance on contradictory claim – fairness – notice of alternative claim provided EVIDENCE – error of law – whether Magistrate relied on irrelevant material Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Bankruptcy Regulations 1996 (Cth) Local Court Act 2007 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 (HL) Johnston v Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 240 Lewis v Condon [2013] NSWCA 204 RHG Mortgage Ltd v Ianni [2015] NSWCA 56 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Melissa Emily Rayhill (Plaintiff) W O'Connor Removals Pty Limited (First Defendant) Schon Condon as Trustee for the Bankrupt Estate of Colleen Anne Rayhill AKA Colleen Anne Lewis (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: PJ Finch (Plaintiff) No appearance (First Defendant) DC Eardley (Second Defendant)