Morris Finance Limited v Free, Trustee of the Property of Neil Warren Brown, a Bankrupt [2016] NSWSC 516

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Morris Finance Limited v Free, Trustee of the Property of Neil Warren Brown, a Bankrupt [2016] NSWSC 516 Hearing dates: 15 April 2016 Date of orders: 15 April 2016 Decision date: 15 April 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Plaintiff requires leave to commence the proceeding or take any fresh step in the proceeding as it is a legal proceeding in respect of a provable debt within s 58(3)(b) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth). Separate question answered accordingly. Catchwords: BANKRUPTCY – proceedings against bankrupt – whether a legal proceeding in respect of a provable debt – plaintiff claims that bankrupt granted it an equitable charge over real property – plaintiff seeks orders for judicial sale and payment out of proceeds of sale – Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), s 58 Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), s 58(3)(b), 58(5) Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 103(2) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Hanshaw v National Australia Bank Ltd [2012] NSWCA 100 Mango Media Pty Ltd v Velingos [2008] NSWSC 202 Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Cuitanovic [2013] NSWSC 722 Savieri v Brown [2008] NSWSC 1210 Scott v Bagshaw [2000] FCA 816; (2000) 99 FCR 573 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Morris Finance Limited (Plaintiff) Stewart William Free, trustee of the property of Neil Warren Brown, a bankrupt (First Defendant) Official Trustee in Bankruptcy, trustee of the property of Caroline Elsie Brown, a bankrupt (Second Defendant) Neil Warren Brown (Third Defendant) Caroline Elsie Brown (Fourth Defendant) Holiday Coast Credit Union Limited (Fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C Yam (solicitor) (Plaintiff) Mr A Behman (solicitor) (First Defendant) Mr T Flaherty (Third and Fourth Defendants)