Ornella Garbett v Rae Dawn Bear [2015] NSWSC 1524

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ornella Garbett v Rae Dawn Bear [2015] NSWSC 1524 Hearing dates: 7 September 2015 Date of orders: 01 October 2015 Decision date: 01 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Rein J Decision: See [55] and [56] Catchwords: EQUITY - Succession - Construction and effect of testamentary dispositions - Whether on the true construction of the will the executor is directed to subdivide the property - Where the property cannot be subdivided in accordance with the testator's direction - Whether inconsistent provisions can be reconciled where subdivision is not possible - Testator's intention for the first defendant to remain residing in a dwelling - Whether property is to be sold Legislation Cited: Perpetuities Act 1984 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) Cases Cited: Abbott v Middleton (1858) 7 HL Cas 68 Allgood v Blake (1872-73) LR 8 Exch 160 Askew v Askew [2015] NSWSC 192 Boyes v Cook (1880) 14 Ch D 53 Charter v Charter (1874) LR 7 HL 364 Doggett v Lenehan [1926] St R Qd 84 Fell v Fell (1922) 31 CLR 268 Hancock v Watson [1902] AC 14 Hatzantonis v Lawrence [2003] NSWSC 914 Hoppe v McDavitt [1961] VR 381 In re Bailey; Barrett v Hyder [1951] Ch 407 In re Isaac; Harrison v Isaac [1905] 1 Ch 427, 43 Ireland as Executor of Estate of the late Gordon v Retallack [2011] NSWSC 846 Lassence v Tierney [1843-60] All ER Rep 47 Layer v Burns Philp Trustee Co Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 60 Muir v Winn [2009] NSWSC 857 Pagano v Ruello [2001] NSWSC 63 Re Bowcock (decd); Box v Bowcock [1968] 2 NSWR 697 Re Leigh's Will Trusts [1970] Ch 277 Re O'Callaghan (decd) [1972] VR 248 Re Padbury; Home of Peace for the Dying & Incurable v Solicitor-General [1908] HCA 72; (1908) 7 CLR 680 Re Sandford [1990] 1 Ch 939 Re Spencer (1886) 54 LT 59 Scale v Rawlins [1892] AC 342 Sidle v Queensland Trustees Ltd [1915] HCA 48; (1915) 20 CLR 557 Towns v Wentworth (1858) 14 ER 794 Van Kerkvoorde v Moroney [1917] HCA 47; (1917) 23 CLR 426 Warton v Yeo [2015] NSWCA 115 Watson v Ralph [1982] HCA 35; (1982) 148 CLR 646 Texts Cited: 'Construction of Wills in Australia' (2007, LexisNexis Butterworths) 'Williams on Wills' (2008, 9th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ornella Garbett (Plaintiff) Rae Dawn Bear (First Defendant) Rodney Barnett Bear (Second Defendant) Kerryn Stacey Bear (Third Defendant) Roxanna Lenice Bear (Fourth Defendant) Marilyn Gay Watts (Fifth Defendant) Christine June Haines (Sixth Defendant) Cheryl Jon Fowler (Seventh Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S. Chapple (Plaintiff) G. Waugh (First Defendant) A. Rogers (Second Defendant) M. Gorrick (Third and Fourth Defendants)