Lincu v Registrar-General [2019] NSWSC 568

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lincu v Registrar-General [2019] NSWSC 568 Hearing dates: 9 April 2018; further written submissions 23 April, 6 May, 16 May 2018 Date of orders: 16 May 2019 Decision date: 16 May 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity - Real Property List Before: Kunc J Decision: Torrens assurance fund not liable; Cross-claim dismissed Catchwords: LAND LAW — Torrens title — Compensation for loss of interest in land — Torrens assurance fund — Whether "breach of trust" exemption from compensation includes fraudulent breach of trust or applies only where sole cause of loss or damage is breach of trust — Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 129(2)(f)(i) Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Real Property Act 1857 (SA) Real Property Law Amendment Act 1858 (SA) Real Property Act 1860 (SA) Real Property Act 1861 (SA) Real Property Act 1862 (NSW) Real Property Further Amendment Act 1877 (NSW) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Real Property Amendment Act 1970 (NSW) Real Property (Torrens Assurance Fund) Amendment Act 1992 (NSW) Real Property Amendment (Compensation) Act 2000 (NSW) Real Property and Conveyancing Legislation Amendment Act 2009 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Challenger Managed Investments Ltd v Direct Money Group Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 1072; (2003) 59 NSWLR 452 Cooper v The General Accident, Fire, and Life Assurance Cooperation Limited (1922) 128 LT 481 Diemasters Pty Ltd v Meadowcorp Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 495; (2001) 52 NSWLR 572 Fish v Solution 6 Holdings Limited [2006] HCA 22; (2006) 225 CLR 180 Government Insurance Office of NSW v RJ Green and Lloyd Pty Ltd [1966] HCA 6; (1967) 114 CLR 437 Guns Forest Product Ltd v North Insurances Pty Ltd [2004] VSC 155 Kavanagh v Commonwealth [1960] HCA 25; (1960) 103 CLR 547 Kirkland v Quinross Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 286; (2008) 14 BPR 26,979 Krnjulac v Lincu [2015] NSWCA 367 Lacey v Attorney-General (Qld) [2011] HCA 10; (2011) 242 CLR 573 Lincu v Krnjulac [2014] NSWSC 532 Parker v Registrar-General [1977] 1 NSWLR 22 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Khazaal [2012] HCA 26; (2012) 246 CLR 601 Re Alcan Australia Limited; Ex parte Federation of Industrial, Manufacturing & Engineering Employees Union [1994] HCA 34; (1994) 181 CLR 96 Re Hamilton Irvine (1990) 94 ALR 428 Registrar-General v Behn [1980] 1 NSWLR 589 Registrar-General v Harris (1998) 45 NSWLR 404 Robinson v Registrar-General (1982) 2 BPR 97154; (1983) NSW ConvR 55-138 Saade v Registrar-General (NSW) [1993] HCA 73; (1993) 179 CLR 58 Schmidt v Registrar-General of Land [2015] NZHC 2015; [2016] 2 NZLR 121 TAL Life Ltd v Shuetrim [2016] NSWCA 68; (2016) 91 NSWLR 439 Travelex Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2010] HCA 33; (2010) 241 CLR 510 Voudouris v Registrar-General (1993) 30 NSWLR 195 Vrondissis v Stevens [1940] 2 KB 90 Texts Cited: NSW Law Reform Commission Report 76 (1996) – Torrens Title: Compensation for Loss South Australian Real Property Law Commission Report 1861 Baalman's The Torrens System in New South Wales (Law Book Co of Australasia Pty Ltd, 1951) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Lincu (First Cross-Claimant) Zivadin Kovacevic (Second Cross-Claimant) Zuzana Veres (Third Cross-Claimant)