Penfold v Predny [2016] NSWSC 472

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Penfold v Predny [2016] NSWSC 472 Hearing dates: 8 and 9 March 2016 Date of orders: 21 April 2016 Decision date: 21 April 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: (a) Orders that the Summons be dismissed. (b) Makes no order as to the Plaintiff's costs to the intent that she is to bear her own costs of the proceedings. (c) Orders that the Defendants' costs, calculated on the indemnity basis, of the proceedings be paid or retained as the case may be out of the estate of the deceased. (d) Orders that the Exhibits should be dealt with in accordance with the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005. Catchwords: SUCCESSION - family provision - application by adult daughter - Provision made by deceased and his wife during lifetime - Legacy of $50,000 left to Plaintiff in last Will of deceased – Balance of deceased's estate left to son of the deceased - Evidence of mistake in methodology used by the deceased in determining amount of legacy - Only issues at the hearing whether the Plaintiff has been left with adequate provision for her proper maintenance or advancement in life and, if not, what, if any, further provision ought to be made out of the estate for those purposes – Court not satisfied of inadequacy of provision made for the Plaintiff – Summons dismissed – How burden of costs of the proceedings to be borne – No order for the Plaintiff's costs – Defendants' costs to be borne by the estate. Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Andrew v Andrew [2012] NSWCA 308; (2012) 81 NSWLR 656 Boettcher v Driscoll [2014] SASC 86; (2014) 119 SASR 523 Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1938] AC 463 Brimelow v Alampi [2016] VSC 135 Bruce v Greentree (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1636 Collicoat v McMillan [1999] 3 VR 803 Cooper v Dungan (1976) 50 ALJR 539 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 Flathaug v Weaver [2003] NZFLR 730 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Harkness v Harkness (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 35 Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Mallet v Mallet [1984] HCA 21; (1984) 156 CLR 605 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566 Newman v Newman [2015] NSWSC 1207 Phillips v James [2014] NSWCA 4; 85 NSWLR 619 Pincius v Wood [1998] TASSC 46 R (on the application of M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] UKHL 52; [2008] 1 WLR 1808 Singer v Berghouse [1994] HCA 40; 181 CLR 201 Stewart v Stewart [2015] QSC 238 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Tobin v Ezekiel [2012] NSWCA 285; (2012) 83 NSWLR 757 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Verzar v Verzar [2014] NSWCA 45 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Vincent v Lewis [2006] NZFLR 812 White v Barron [1980] HCA 14; 144 CLR 431 Worsley v Solomon [2008] NSWSC 444 Texts Cited: Professor Rosalind Croucher "Succession Law Reform in NSW – 2011 Update" (Speech, Blue Mountains Annual Law Conference, Katoomba, 17 September 2011) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Donna Gaye Penfold (Plaintiff) David Milan Predny (first Defendant) Brett Kenneth Douglas (second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mrs M Bridger (Plaintiff) Mr L Ellison SC (Defendants)