Campbell v Brazel [2016] NSWSC 198

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Campbell v Brazel [2016] NSWSC 198 Hearing dates: 3 March 2016 Date of orders: 04 March 2016 Decision date: 04 March 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Fagan J Decision: 1. The plaintiffs' notice of motion filed 13 August 2015 is dismissed.

2. These proceedings are declared incompetent and a nullity.

3. The plaintiffs are to pay the defendants' costs from the filing of the defendants' notice of motion on 26 February 2015.

4. The costs to be paid by the plaintiffs under order 3 to the defendants are to be on the indemnity basis on and from 16 April 2015. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – civil – lack of standing to sue – cause of action vested in trustee in bankruptcy at time of commencement – assignment of cause of action to plaintiffs after commencement – proceedings a nullity

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – civil – amendment – proceedings not curable by amendment to plead assignment of cause of action after commencement – Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 64, 65

BANKRUPTCY – vesting of cause of action in trustee – no revesting upon discharge of bankrupt – Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) – ss 58, 129AA, 149 Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Cases Cited: Chahwan v Euphoric Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 52 Chahwan v Euphoric Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 805, (2009) 73 ACSR 252 Darrington v Caldeck (1990) 20 NSWLR 212 Deveigne v Askar [2007] NSWCA 45 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; (2005) 223 CLR 1 Foss v Harbottle (1843) 2 Hare 461; 67 ER 189 Marshall v DG Sundin & Co Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 463 Samootin v Shea [2010] NSWCA 371 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gregory William Campbell (1st Plaintiff) Jennifer Campbell (2nd Plaintiff) Geoffrey Ronald Brazel (1st Defendant) Peter Gerard Moore (2nd Defendant) Joseph McCarthy(3rd Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr H W Somerville (Plaintiffs) Mr G P Craddock SC (Defendants)