Saba v Plumb & Anor [2017] NSWSC 622

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Saba v Plumb & Anor [2017] NSWSC 622 Hearing dates: 13 – 15 February, 29 March, 31 March and 5 April 2017 Decision date: 19 May 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity - Real Property List Before: Black J Decision: Plaintiffs' Statement of Claim dismissed. Second Defendant's/Cross-Claimant's Cross-Claim dismissed in consequence. Catchwords: PROPERTY – Alienation of property – Application under Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 37A to avoid alienation of property with intent to defraud creditors – where property transferred pursuant to a property settlement effected by consent orders made by the Family Court of Australia – whether property settlement negotiated after a genuine breakdown of the Defendants' de facto relationship – whether transferor intended to hinder or delay Plaintiff – whether transferee purchaser in good faith without notice

EQUITY – Trusts and trustees – where Defendants tenants in common of real property before the end of their de facto relationship – whether constructive or resulting trust over the property should be recognised to have existed before the Defendants' property settlement reflecting unequal contributions to the property – whether unclean hands defence made out – whether trust should not be ordered or be postponed by reason of unsecured debt owed by putative trustee to the Plaintiff

ESTOPPEL – By judgment – Anshun estoppel – where earlier proceedings consisted of consent orders made by the Family Court of Australia to give effect to a negotiated property settlement Legislation Cited: - Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), Pt VI Div 3, ss 116(1)–(2), 128B–128C, 139ZU - Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Act 2007 (Cth) - Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 7, 37A - Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 136, 140(2) - Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), ss 79, 90SM - Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 48 - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 10.2 Cases Cited: - Australian Receivables Ltd v Tekitu Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) (deed admins apptd) [2011] NSWSC 1306 - B v U [2012] NSWSC 1416 - Baumgartner v Baumgartner [1987] HCA 59; (1987) 164 CLR 137 - Bell Group Ltd (in liq) v Westpac Banking Corp (No 9) [2008] WASC 239; (2008) 39 WAR 1 - Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938); 60 CLR 336 - Brown v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 - Cannane v J Cannane Pty Ltd (in liq) [1998] HCA 26; (1998) 192 CLR 557 - Chan v Acres [2013] NSWSC 1597; (2013) 51 Fam LR 90 - Commissioner of Taxation v Oswal (No 6) [2016] FCA 762; (2016) 339 ALR 560 - Coughlan v Alexander (1905) 5 SR (NSW) 441 - Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Peter Sleiman Investments Pty Ltd as trustee for the Sleiman Family Trust [2016] NSWSC 1657 - Ekes v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2014] NSWCA 336; (2014) 313 ALR 665 - Green v Schneller [2002] NSWSC 671; (2002) 29 Fam LR 346 - Henderson v Henderson (1843) 3 Hare 100; 67 ER 313 - Henderson v Miles (No 2) [2005] NSWSC 867; (2005) 12 BPR 23,579 - Krajovska v Krajovska [2011] NSWSC 903 - Lakis v Lardis [2017] NSWSC 321 - Langdon v Gruber [2001] NSWSC 276 - Marcolongo v Chen [2011] HCA 3; (2011) 242 CLR 546 - McKay v McKay [2008] NSWSC 177 - Muschinski v Dodds [1985] HCA 78; (1985) 160 CLR 583 - Nelson v Nelson [1995] HCA 25; (1995) 184 CLR 538 - Patel v Lal [2011] NSWSC 603; (2011) 16 BPR 30,265 - Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 45; (1981) 147 CLR 589 - PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd v Grellman (1992) 35 FCR 515; 107 ALR 199 - Re Trautwein; Richardson v Trautwein (1944) 14 ABC 61 - Sui Mei Huen v Official Receiver for Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2008] FCAFC 117; (2008) 248 ALR 1; 39 Fam LR 355 - West v Mead [2003] NSWSC 161; (2003) 13 BPR 24,431 Texts Cited: - Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Michael Saba (Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant) Noel Plumb (First Defendant/First Cross-Defendant) Jeanette Minifie (Second Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: P Barham (Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant) P Glissan (First Defendant/First Cross-Defendant) C Alexander (Second Defendant/Cross-Claimant)