Spiliotopoulos v National Australia Bank Limited [2017] NSWSC 971

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Spiliotopoulos v National Australia Bank Limited [2017] NSWSC 971 Hearing dates: 18 July 2017 Date of orders: 21 July 2017 Decision date: 21 July 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison J Decision: (1) Dismiss the proceedings against the first defendant and the third defendant with costs. (2) Dismiss the plaintiff's application to replead. Catchwords: SUMMARY DISPOSAL – UCPR 13.4 – where plaintiff alleges signature on mortgage procured by fraud of wife – where monies advanced by Bank on security of mortgage paid into joint account of plaintiff and wife – whether Bank and attesting witness to plaintiff's signature on mortgage implicated in the alleged fraud of wife – whether claims pleaded in fraud disclose a reasonable cause of action against either the Bank or the attesting witness – whether Bank's mortgage registered with notice of fraud – whether fraud can be brought home to the Bank – whether claims in fraud otherwise properly pleaded or particularised – whether attesting witness negligent in signing mortgage in absence of plaintiff – where plaintiff's claim in negligence against attesting witness not clearly articulated – whether claim in negligence against attesting witness barred by operation of Limitation Act – whether plaintiff suffered loss having regard to his receipt and enjoyment of the monies advanced by the Bank Legislation Cited: Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 Civil Procedure Act 2005 Limitation Act 1969 Real Property Act 1900 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Arthur Yates & Co Pty Ltd v The Vegetable Seeds Committee (1945) 72 CLR 37; [1945] HCA 55 Artistic Builders Pty Ltd & Anor v Nash & Ors [2010] NSWSC 1442 Assets Co Ltd v Mere Roihi [1905] AC 176 Banque Commerciale SA, en liquidation v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Belmont Finance Corporation Ltd v Williams Furniture Ltd [1979] Ch 250 Breskvar v Wall (1971) 126 CLR 376; [1971] HCA 70 Cox v Journeaux (No 2) (1935) 52 CLR 713; [1935] HCA 48 Davy v Garrett (1878) 7 Ch D 473 Frazer v Walker [1967] 1 AC 569 General Steel Industries v Commissioner for Railways (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Grgic v ANZ Banking Group Ltd (1994) 33 NSWLR 202 Hillebrand v Penrith Council [2000] NSWSC 1058 Issitch v Worrell (2000) 172 ALR 586 Kingsley Corporation Ltd v ANZ Banking Group (No 2) (NSWSC, 15 October 1997, unreported) McDonald v Grech [2012] NSWSC 717 MacLeod v The Queen (2003) 214 CLR 230; [2003] HCA 25 Magman International Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (1991) 32 FCR 1 NIML Ltd v MAN Financial Australia Ltd (No 2) [2004] VSC 510 Scarcella v Lettice [2000] NSWCA 289 Seymour v Seymour (1996) 40 NSWLR 358 Spencer v The Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 Stuart v Kingston (1923) 32 CLR 309; [1923] HCA 17 Thelma Langford v Deva and Dianne Reddy & Ors [2012] NSWSC 289. Three Rivers District Council v Bank of England (No 3) [2003] 2 AC 1 Wallingford v Mutual Society (1880) 5 App Cas 685 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514; [1992] HCA 55 Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598; [1993] HCA 57 White v Grogan [1972] 2 NSWLR 347 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Arthur Spiliotopoulos (Plaintiff) National Australia Bank Limited (First Defendant) Lorraine Jackson (Third Defendant) Sofia Spiliotopoulos (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Norrie (Plaintiff) V Brigden (First Defendant) H Altan (Third Defendant) Mr D Nagle (Fourth Defendant)