Lardis v Lakis [2018] NSWCA 113

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lardis v Lakis [2018] NSWCA 113 Hearing dates: 21 July 2017 Decision date: 24 May 2018 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [2]; White JA at [74] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY – voidable dispositions – intent to defraud creditors – Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 37A – where husband transferred 49% interest in residential property to wife for stated nominal consideration – whether sufficient evidence of motive to justify finding of intent

EVIDENCE – witness evidence – cross examination – rule in Browne v Dunn – where no cross examination directed to credibility as distinct from reliability of witness' evidence – whether sufficient challenge to accuracy and reliability of witness' version of events – whether primary judge permitted to reject evidence of witness Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 37A Supreme Court (Corporations) Rules 1999 (NSW), r 2.4 Cases Cited: Broughton v B & B Group Investments Pty Ltd [2017] VSCA 227 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Cannane v J Cannane Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1998) 192 CLR 557; [1998] HCA 26 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Marcolongo v Chen (2011) 242 CLR 546; [2011] HCA 3 MWJ v The Queen [2005] HCA 74; (2005) 80 ALJR 329 Regal Castings Ltd v Lightbody [2009] 2 NZLR 433 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence, (8th Aust ed 2010, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Athena Lardis (Appellant) Edward Lakis (First Respondent) Amazon Pest Control Pty Ltd (in liq) (Second Respondent) Michael Victor Lardis (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Birch SC, B DeBuse (Appellant) R Newlinds SC, N Bender (First and Second Respondents)