Admark Property Group Pty Ltd (in liq) v GJ Building and Contracting Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 118

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Admark Property Group Pty Ltd (in liq) v GJ Building and Contracting Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 118 Hearing dates: 19 December 2016 Decision date: 23 February 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity - Corporations List Before: Black J Decision: Declaration that the Respondent has committed a contempt of the Court. Order that the Respondent pay a fine of $50,000 and pay the Applicant's costs of and incidental to the contempt application and the penalty hearing on an indemnity basis. Catchwords: PROCEDURE – Contempt, attachment and sequestration – Contempt of Court – Sentence – where Respondent caused company to breach an undertaking to the Court thereby knowingly impeding the administration of justice – where contemnor purged contempt after conviction – whether custodial sentence is appropriate. Legislation Cited: - Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 5–12, 14–15, 21A Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s 6 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules (NSW), Part 55 r 13 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 40.7 Cases Cited: - Anderson v XLVII [2015] FCA 19; (2015) 319 ALR 139 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Michalik [2004] NSWSC 1259; (2004) 52 ACSR 115; (2005) 23 ACLC 188 - Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 46; (1986) 161 CLR 98 - Bydand Holdings Pty Ltd v Pineland Property Holdings Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 959 - CC Containers Pty Ltd v Lee (No 9) [2015] VSC 595 - Circuit Finance Australia (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) v Sobbi [2010] NSWSC 912 - Crane Distribution Ltd v Van Schellebeeck [2009] NSWSC 263 - Financial Pty Ltd v Menzies [2015] NSWSC 1622 - JSC BTA Bank v Solodchenko (No 2) [2011] EWCA Civ 1241; [2012] 1 WLR 350 - Louis Vuitton Malletier SA v Design Elegance Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 83; (2006) 149 FCR 494 - Menzies v Paccar Financial Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 280 - NCR Australia Pty Ltd v Credit Connection Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1118 - Paccar Financial Pty Ltd v Menzies [2015] NSWSC 1622 - Pisano v Dandris (No 4) [2015] NSWSC 1689 - Re Mycorp Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1180 - Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam (No 2) (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 - Ryan v Wright (No 2) [2004] NSWSC 1019 - The Prothonotary of Supreme Court of New South Wales v Battye [2017] NSWSC 48 - Witham v Holloway [1995] HCA 3; (1995) 183 CLR 525 Category: Sentence Parties: Admark Property Group Pty Limited (in liq) (Plaintiff) GJ Building and Contracting Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Sulan (Defendant/Applicant) R Dick SC/M J Dawson/E Bathurst (Respondent on Motion)