Salmon v Albarran & Ors [2019] NSWSC 243

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Salmon v Albarran & Ors [2019] NSWSC 243 Hearing dates: 28 November, 13 December 2017, 21 February and 13 March 2018 Date of orders: 13 March 2019 Decision date: 13 March 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: See paragraph [155]. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Summary dismissal – plaintiffs file Amended Statement of Claim in February 2017 – defendants apply under Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 14.28(1) to dismiss proceedings against them, on the basis that there is no real question to be tried – defendants propose to field a defence under Limitation Act 1969 – plaintiffs plead that the otherwise applicable limitation period was extended under Limitation Act, s 55 on the basis that the defendants concealed their cause of action from them until after the otherwise applicable limitation period expired – in reply, the defendants contend that uncontestable facts establish that the plaintiffs were well aware of the existence of their cause of action long before the applicable limitation period – whether or not the plaintiffs' pleading raises a "real" issue for trial. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, ss 56, 57, 58(1) Corporations Act 2001, ss 420, 1317K, 588FF Federal Court of Australia Act 1986, s 31A Limitation Act 1969, ss 14, 23, 47, 55 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 14.28(1) Cases Cited: Beaman v Arts Ltd [1949] 1 All ER 465 Birtchnell v Equity Trustees Executors and Agency Co Ltd (1929) 42 CLR 384 Boston Commercial Services Pty Ltd v GE Capital Finance Australasia Pty Ltd (2006) 236 ALR 720 Burdick v Garrick (1870) LR5ChApp. 233 Bradman v Allens Arthur Robinson (2009) 103 SASR 438 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Smith (1991) 42 FCR 390 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 George (a Bankrupt) v Fletcher (Trustee) [2010] FCAFC 53 General Steels Industries v Commissioner of Railways (1964) 112 CLR 125 In the matter of Galtari Pty Ltd (in liq) [2018] NSWSC 917 Jefferson Ford Pty Ltd v Ford Motor Co of Australia (2008) 167 FCR 372 Kovarfi v BMT& Associates Pty Ltd (No. 3) [2017] NSWSC 710 Kowalski v MMAL Staff Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (2009) 259 ALR 319 Maguire & Tansey v Makaronis (1997) 188 CLR 449 Nelson v Rye [1996] 2 All ER 186 New South Wales v Williams (2014) 242 A Crim R 22 North American Land and Timber Co Ltd v Watkins [1904] 1 Ch 242 Queensland Pork Pty Ltd v Lott [2003] QCA 271 Spellson v George (1992) 26 NSWLR 666 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia (2010) 241 CLR 118 Three Rivers District Council v Governor & Company of the Bank of England (No. 3) [2001] UKHL16 Wannanup Development Nominees v Growden [2011] WASC 113 Wardley Australia Limited v State of Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 Wentworth v Rogers (No. 5) (1986) 6 NSWLR 534 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming and PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines & Remedies (5th ed, 2014, LexisNexis Butterworths) para 36-075 Category: Consequential orders (other than Costs) Parties: First plaintiff- Owen Salmon Second plaintiff: TCBS Group Holdings Pty Limited ACN 112 571 647 First defendant: Richard Albarran Second defendant: Geoffrey McDonald Fourth defendant: Robert William Joseph Elliott Fifth defendant: Drew Anthony Townsend Sixth defendant: David Kenney Seventh defendant: Luigino Malacco Eighth defendant: Paul Andrew Leroy Representation: Counsel