Mackenzie & Anor v Albany Finance Ltd [2004] WASCA 301
[2004] WASCA 301
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Court of Appeal (WA)
Decision date
2004-12-16
Before
Malcolm CJ
Catchwords
- _
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
Judgment (54 paragraphs)
The application of the money is governed by the expressed, implied or presumed intention of the creditor (where no appropriation is made by the debtor) and not by any rigid rule of law. The rule in Clayton's case (1816) 1 Mer 529; 35 ER 767 at 781 does not apply where there is no account current between the parties, nor where, from an account rendered or other circumstances, it appears that the creditor intended to reserve the right of appropriation. In such circumstances the creditor has the right of appropriation which may be exercised up to the last moment by action or otherwise. If the debtor desires to appropriate the payment in a particular way that need not be done in express terms but it must be communicated to the creditor or be capable of being inferred: Leeson v Leeson [1936] 2 KB 156.
114 Where the right of appropriation is exercisable by the creditor it need not be made in express terms but may be signified by bringing an action or in any other way which demonstrates the creditor's intention: HL and and so it has been held that in such circumstances a creditor is entitled to appropriate such payment in reduction of a statute barred debt: If neither party exercises the right of appropriation it is possible to look at the matter as a situation of account and examine how the creditor has dealt with the payment in order to ascertain how in fact it was appropriated - (4th ed, Reissue vol 3(1), par 196). Hence, where there is no specific designation for the appropriation of a particular payment made by a debtor the right of appropriation will rest with the creditor who may apply the payment to one or other of the obligations outstanding at the creditor's choice.