Choras v Farmakidis [2020] NSWSC 367

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Choras v Farmakidis [2020] NSWSC 367 Hearing dates: 21 February; 4 March 2020 Date of orders: 08 April 2020 Decision date: 08 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Parker J Decision: See [172] Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – hearings – family provision – separate hearing application – prejudice to parties – whether a separate hearing could potentially save time and cost – overlap of evidence limited

SUCCESSION – family provision – claim by de facto partner – proceedings not commenced within time –whether sufficient cause shown to extent time – estate fully administered – lack of documents and fading memories – reliance on deed of family arrangement – prejudice to defendant Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 75 Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW), s 16 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), ch 3, ss 57, 57(1)(d), 57(1)(e)-(f), 58(2), 62, 62(2), 95 Trustee Act 1925 (NSW), s 81 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 13.4, 28.2 Cases Cited: Australian Financial Services and Leasing Pty Ltd v Hills Industries Ltd (2014) 253 CLR 560; [2014] HCA 14 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; [1996] HCA 25 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Burton v Moss [2010] NSWSC 163 De Winter v Johnstone (Court of Appeal (NSW), 23 August 1995, unrep) Macedonian Orthodox Community Church St Petka Inc v His Eminence Petar, the Diocesan Bishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (2008) 237 CLR 66; [2008] HCA 42 Prince Alfred College Incorporated v ADC (2016) 258 CLR 134; [2016] HCA 37 Tanev v Tanevski [2017] NSWSC 1301 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269 Vasconelos v Bonetig [2011] NSWSC 1029 Verzar v Verzar [2014] NSWCA 45 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Emanuel Choras (Plaintiff) Francis John Farmakidis (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: JEF Brown (Plaintiff) IE Davidson SC/CM Roberts (Defendant)