Webster v Strang; Steiner v Strang [2018] NSWSC 495

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Webster v Strang; Steiner v Strang [2018] NSWSC 495 Hearing dates: 22–26 May 2017, 29 May 2017 Decision date: 23 April 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Kunc J Decision: Additional provision to be ordered; Cross-claim for debt on account stated upheld Catchwords: SUCCESSION – family provision and maintenance – principles upon which relief granted – claim by adult children against large estate CONTRACT – Account – Money due on account stated – Whether "Acknowledgement of Loan" signed by parties was account stated Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ak-Tankiz v Ak [2014] NSWSC 1044 Alexander v Jansson [2010] NSWCA 176; (2010) 6 ASTLR 432 Amalgamated Property Co v Texas Bank [1982] QB 84 Anasson v Phillips (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 4 March 1988, unrep) Andrew v Andrew (2012) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Bank of New South Wales v Brown (1983) 151 CLR 514; [1983] HCA 1 Bates v Cooke [2015] NSWCA 278; (2015) 14 ASTLR 221 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195; (2015) 13 ASTLR 313 Burmester v Hogarth (1843) 11 M & W 97; 152 ER 730 Camernik v Reholc [2012] NSWSC 1537 Camillo Tank Steamship Co Ltd v Alexandria Engineering Works (1921) 38 TLR 134 Carpenter v Buller (1841) 8 M & W 209; 151 ER 1013 Champion Homes Sales Pty Ltd v JKAM Investments Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 952 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386 Collins v McGain [2003] NSWCA 190 Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Ltd v McCabe (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 397 Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 226; [1986] HCA 14 Cooper v Dungan (1976) 9 ALR 93; 50 ALJR 539 Coshott v Sakic (1998) 44 NSWLR 667 Cubillo v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) (2000) 103 FCR 1; [2000] FCA 1084 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Darveniza v Darveniza [2014] QSC 37 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54; (2009) 2 ASTLR 89 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95; [2002] HCA 8 Executor Trustee & Agency Co of South Australia Ltd v Thompson (1919) 27 CLR 162; [1919] HCA 51 Ex parte Morgan; In re Simpson (1876) 2 Ch D 72 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Friend v Brien [2014] NSWSC 613 Goldsmith v Goldsmith [2012] NSWSC 1486 Goodman v Windeyer (1980) 144 CLR 490; [1980] HCA 31 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Gove Sport Fishing and Diving Charter Pty Ltd v Yeend [2017] QSC 148 Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Gold Mines Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 641; [1937] HCA 58 Heydon v Perpetual Executors, Trustees and Agency Co (WA) Ltd (1930) 45 CLR 111; [1930] HCA 26 Hughes v National Trustees, Executors and Agency Co of Australasia Ltd (1979) 143 CLR 134; [1979] HCA 2 Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Indyk v Wiernik [2006] NSWSC 868 Jodell v Woods [2017] NSWSC 143 Johnston v Brightstars Holding Co Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150 Jones v Padavatton [1969] 1 WLR 328; 2 All ER 616 Katelis v Adalia Pty Ltd [2002] VSC 497 Keep v Bourke [2012] NSWCA 64 Kleinig v Neal (No 2) [1981] 2 NSWLR 532 Labracon Pty Ltd v Cuturich [2013] NSWSC 97; (2013) BPR 32,497 Lewis v Lamb [2011] NSWSC 873 Lewis v Wilson (1997) 42 NSWLR 228 Lloyd-Williams v Mayfield (2005) 63 NSWLR 1; [2005] NSWCA 189 Lockyer v Macready [1965] NSWR 801; (1965) 66 SR (NSW) 369 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303; (2011) 15 BPR 29,465 McCathie v McCathie [1971] NZLR 58 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566; [1957] HCA 82 Miller Heiman Pty Ltd v Sales Principles Pty Ltd (2017) 94 NSWLR 500; [2017] NSWCA 106 MK & JA Roche Pty Ltd v Metro Edgley Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 39 Moratic Pty Ltd v Gordon [2007] NSWSC 5; (2007) 13 BPR 24,713 Moses v Macferlan (1760) 2 Burr 1005; 97 ER 676 Oldereid v Chan [2013] NSWSC 434 Optus Administration Pty Ltd v Wright bht Wright (2017) 94 NSWLR 229; [2017] NSWCA 21 Perpetual Ltd v Myer Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 2 Peters v Salmon [2013] NSWSC 953 Phillips v James (2014) 85 NSWLR 619; [2014] NSWCA 4 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9; [1962] HCA 19 Popovski v Kenjar [2011] NSWSC 731 R (M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] UKHL 52; [2008] 1 WLR 1808 Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Benchdollar Ltd [2010] 1 All ER 174 Romano v Romano [2004] NSWSC 775 Roxborough v Rothmans of Pall Mall Australia Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 516; [2001] HCA 68 Ryledar Pty Ltd v Euphoric Pty Ltd (2007) 69 NSWLR 603; [2007] NSWCA 65 Salmon v Osmond [2015] NSWCA 42; (2015) 14 ASTLR 442 Sammut v Kleemann [2012] NSWSC 1030 Sangha v Baxter [2009] NSWCA 78; (2009) 52 MVR 492 Saravinovska v Saravinovski (No 6) [2016] NSWSC 964 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) (1994) 181 CLR 201; [1994] HCA 40 Slack v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253; [2013] NSWSC 522 Smith v Johnson [2015] NSWCA 297; (2015) 14 ASTLR 175 Steiner v Strang [2012] NSWSC 919 Steiner v Strang [2014] NSWSC 1250 Steiner v Strang [2015] NSWSC 14 Steiner v Strang [2015] NSWCA 203 Steiner v Strang [2016] NSWSC 9 Steiner v Strang (No 2) [2016] NSWSC 394 Steiner v Strang [2016] NSWSC 395 Steiner v Strang [2017] NSWSC 132 Steiner v Strang (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 891 Stern v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269; (2015) 324 ALR 641 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Walker v Walker (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 17 May 1996, unrep) Warner v Hung (No 2) [2011] FCA 1123; (2011) 297 ALR 56 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: Bailey, "Lewis v Wilson: Account stated rears its ugly head" (1997) 12 JCL 160 Handley, Estoppel by Conduct and Election (2nd ed, 2016) Heydon, Cross on Evidence (9th ed, 2013) Mason, Carter and Tolhurst, Mason and Carter's Restitution Law in Australia (3rd ed, 2016) Spencer Bower, Reliance-Based Estoppel (5th ed, 2017) Young, Croft and Smith, On Equity (2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ms Robyn Gai Webster (Plaintiff, 2012/129833) Mr John Steiner (Plaintiff, 2012/185566) Mr Kenneth Ross Strang (First defendant, 2012/129833 and 2012/185566) Mr Jason Tang (Second defendant, 2012/129833 and 2012/185566) Representation: Counsel: Mr N Bilinsky (Plaintiff, 2012/129833) Mr M K Condon SC (Plaintiff, 2012/185566) Mr L Ellison SC with Mr R Potter (Defendants, 2012/129833 and 2012/185566)