Wantagong Farms Pty Ltd as Trustee for the Bulle Family Trust v Bulle [2015] NSWSC 1603

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wantagong Farms Pty Ltd as Trustee for the Bulle Family Trust v Bulle [2015] NSWSC 1603 Hearing dates: 12 to 16, 19 to 23 October 2015 Decision date: 30 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Ball J Decision: See paragraphs 95 to 96 of this judgment. Catchwords: ESTOPPEL – equitable estoppel – proprietary estoppel – estoppel by encouragement – representations regarding testamentary intention – expectation that an option to purchase property at a particular price would accrue to defendant after both parents' death – requirement that party alleged to be estopped induced an expectation as to passing of interest in land – requirement that party seeking to establish the estoppel must have changed its position leading to detriment in the case of a departure from the expectation – whether defendants changed their position in reliance on expectation as to succession plan – whether departure from expectation would result in detriment – whether in all the circumstances of the case it would be unconscionable to permit departure from succession plans sought to be enforced Cases Cited: Ashton v Pratt [2015] NSWCA 12; (2015) 88 NSWLR 281 Barnes v Alderton [2008] NSWSC 107; (2008) 13 BPR 25,281 Delaforce v Simpson-Cook [2010] NSWCA 84; (2010) 78 NSWLR 483 DHJPM Pty Ltd v Blackthorn Resources Ltd [2011] NSWCA 348; (2011) 83 NSWLR 728 Donis v Donis [2007] VSCA 89; (2007) 19 VR 577 Duic v Duic [2013] NSWCA 42 Flinn v Flinn [1999] VSCA 109; [1999] 3 VR 712 Gillett v Holt [2001] Ch 210 Giumelli v Giumelli [1999] HCA 10; (1999) 196 CLR 101 Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Gold Mines Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 641 Milling v Hardie [2014] NSWCA 163 Newbon v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd (1935) 52 CLR 723 Riches v Hogben [1985] 2 Qd R 292 Sidhu v Van Dyke [2014] HCA 19; (2014) 251 CLR 505 Sullivan v Sullivan [2006] NSWCA 312; (2006) 13 BPR 24,755 Thorner v Major [2009] UKHL 18; 3 All ER 945 Van Dyke v Sidhu [2013] NSWCA 198; (2013) 301 ALR 769 Walton v Walton (Court of Appeal of England and Wales, 14 April 1994, unreported) Texts Cited: K Handley, Estoppel by Conduct and Election (2006, Sweet and Maxwell) J D Heydon, M J Leeming, P G Turner, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed, 2015, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Wantagong Farms Pty Ltd ACN 005 301 128 as Trustee for the Bulle Family Trust (First Plaintiff/First Cross Defendant) Marinus Maria Bulle (Second Plaintiff/Second Cross Defendant) Rosemary Jean Bulle (Third Plaintiff/Third Cross Defendant) Robert Joseph Bulle (First Plaintiff/First Cross Claimant) Sally Anne Bulle (Second Plaintiff/Second Cross Claimant) Representation: Counsel: PJ Brereton SC with TJ Breakspear and Ms ND Oreb (Plaintiffs/Cross Defendants) IG Roberts SC with A Casselden (Defendants/Cross Claimants)