Gargano v Coves [2018] NSWSC 985

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gargano v Coves [2018] NSWSC 985 Hearing dates: 21 – 22 May 2018 Date of orders: 03 July 2018 Decision date: 03 July 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: See Paragraph 284 Catchwords: SUCCESSION – FAMILY PROVISION – The Plaintiff, an adult child of the deceased, makes a claim for a family provision order – No dispute as to the Plaintiff's eligibility as a child of the deceased – Deceased made statements going to testamentary intention which provided reasons for the lack of provision for the Plaintiff – Reasonably large estate in value – Whether family provision order should be made, and if so, the nature and quantum of the provision to be made Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alexander v Jansson [2010] NSWCA 176 Andrew v Andrew (2012) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Bartlett v Coomber [2008] NSWCA 100 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 Boettcher v Driscoll (2014) 119 SASR 523; [2014] SASC 86 Bondelmonte v Blanckensee [1989] WAR 305 Borebor v Keane [2013] VSC 35 Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1938] AC 463 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Bowyer v Wood (2007) 99 SASR 190; [2007] SASC 327 Burke v Burke (2015) 13 ASTLR 313; [2015] NSWCA 195 Butcher v Craig [2009] WASC 164 Carey v Robson (No 2) [2009] NSWSC 1199 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Christie v Manera [2006] WASC 287 Clifford v Mayr [2010] NSWCA 6 Condello v Kim [2018] NSWSC 394 Cross v Wasson [2009] NSWSC 378; (2009) 2 ASTLR 201 Crossman v Riedel [2004] ACTSC 127 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 Devereaux-Warnes v Hall (No 3) (2007) 35 WAR 127; [2007] WASCA 235 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 Flathaug v Weaver [2003] NZFLR 730 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Forsyth v Sinclair (No 2) (2010) 28 VR 635; [2010] VSCA 195 Gardiner v Gardiner (Supreme Court (NSW), 28 May 1998, unrep) Goodman v Windeyer (1980) 144 CLR 490; [1980] HCA 31 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Grey v Harrison [1997] 2 VR 359 Harkness v Harkness (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 35 Hawkins v Prestage (1989) 1 WAR 37 Heyward v Fisher (Court of Appeal (NSW), Kirby J, 26 April 1985, unrep) 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 Kay v Archbold [2008] NSWSC 254 Kohari v Snow [2013] NSWSC 452 Langtry v Campbell (Supreme Court (NSW), Powell J, 7 March 1991, unrep) MacGregor v MacGregor [2003] WASC 169 Magill v Magill (2006) 226 CLR 551; [2006] HCA 51 Manuel v Lane [2013] NSWCA 61 Marks v Marks [2003] WASCA 297 Marshall v Carruthers [2002] NSWCA 47 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566; [1957] HCA 82 McCosker v McCosker; Kleinig v Neal (No 2) [1981] 2 NSWLR 532 McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 McKenzie v Topp [2004] VSC 90 Milillo v Konnecke [2009] NSWCA 109 Palagiano v Mankarios [2011] NSWSC 61 Permanent Trustee Co Ltd v Fraser (1995) 36 NSWLR 24 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9; [1962] HCA 19 R (on the application of M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] 1 WLR 1808; [2008] UKHL 52 Re the Will of Sitch (deceased); Gillies v Executors of the Will of Sitch [2005] VSC 308 Salmon v Osmond [2015] NSWCA 42 Sellers v Scrivenger [2010] VSC 320 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201; [1994] HCA 40 Smith v Johnson (2015) 14 ASTLR 175; [2015] NSWCA 297 Soens v Rathborne [2018] NSWSC 302 Stern v Sekers; Sekers v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Sung v Malaxos [2015] NSWSC 186 Szypica v O'Beirne [2013] NSWSC 297 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Tobin v Ezekiel (2012) 83 NSWLR 75; [2012] NSWCA 285 Toscano v Toscano [2017] NSWSC 419 Underwood v Gaudron [2014] NSWSC 1055 Underwood v Gaudron (2015) 324 ALR 641; [2015] NSWCA 269 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) White v Barron (1980) 144 CLR 431; [1980] HCA 14 Yee v Yee [2017] NSWCA 305 Texts Cited: R Atherton, "The Concept of Moral Duty in the Law of Family Provision – a Gloss or Critical Understanding?" (1999) 5(1) Aust J Leg Hist 5 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Julie Denise Gargano (Plaintiff) Mark Coves (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Rogers (Plaintiff) Dr S Chapple (Defendant)