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[2014] NSWCA 250
mixed. 1. Leave granted to amend summons for leave to appeal to substitute administrator as second respondent. 2. Applicant directed to file and serve amended summons. 3. Otherwise, applicant's notice of...
This case is a procedural decision about finalising a family estate dispute appeal. The Court had previously decided to allow Neil Telfer's appeal against costs orders, but needed the estate's administrator formally joined as a party. The Court granted leave to add the administrator, but refused Neil's other requests: to extend a freeze on the estate until his costs were paid (because the final decision didn't give him priority over other estate debts), to force his sister to hand over property documents (because he hadn't asked for this before and had no right to it), and to change the date of the original court orders (because the original date was actually correct). The Court also made sure that earlier costs orders made during the case wouldn't be disturbed by the final decision.
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2 cited instruments linked from this judgment.
Judgment 1SACKVILLE AJA: On 13 June 2014, the Court delivered judgment in this appeal. The judgment recorded the orders the Court proposed to make in the proceedings (Proposed Orders), subject to steps being taken to join the administrator of the estate of the late Lyall Telfer: Telfer v Telfer [2014] NSWCA 186 (Principal Judgment) at [111]-[116]. The Court made the following orders: "1 Direct the applicant (Neil Telfer) to file and serve a motion seeking leave to join the administrator of the estate of Lyall Telfer (deceased) (Administrator) as a respondent to the appeal. 2 Direct the applicant to file and serve the motion and any supporting affidavit within fourteen days. 3 Direct that in addition to the motion and supporting affidavit, the applicant serve on the Administrator within fourteen days copies of this judgment and the appeal books." The matter was listed for directions on 8 July 2014. 2The applicant did not comply with the directions in a timely fashion. He filed a notice of motion and a supporting affidavit on 4 July 2014, but did not serve them on the respondent and the Administrator until very shortly before the directions hearing. 3The applicant's motion sought the following orders: "1 The Applicant have leave to amend the Summons for Leave to Appeal to substitute as Second Respondent, in place of the NSW Trustee and Guardian, Kenneth John Fairfax, in his capacity as administrator of the Estate of the late Lyall Telfer. 2 The order staying the administration of the Estate, made on 30 September 2013 by Meagher JA, be extended until payment by the Respondent of the Applicant's costs of the application for leave to appeal, and of the appeal, to the extent that such costs are ordered to be paid by the Court of Appeal. 3 The Respondent is to deliver within 7 days to the administrator, Kenneth John Fairfax, the original Certificate of Title for the Northmead property, together with a Withdrawal of Caveat form in registrable form to withdraw her caveat presently registered on title to the Northmead property. 4 That proposed Order 3 is to read: "Set aside Orders 5 and 6 made by the primary Judge on 21 June 2013." In lieu thereof, and excluding interlocutory costs orders made in the proceedings below, order that each party pay his or her own costs of the proceedings." 4At the directions hearing, Mr Rollinson appeared for the applicant and Mr Williams for the respondent (Ms Telfer). The Administrator (who is a solicitor) appeared in person.
Paragraph 1 of the Motion 5The Administrator indicated that he had no objection to being joined as a party to the appeal. Mr Williams also had no objection to the Court making the order sought in par 1 of the motion. It is accordingly appropriate that an order to that effect be made. A single Judge of Appeal has power to make the order: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 46(2)(b). 6As stated at the hearing, it will be necessary for the applicant to file an amended summons for leave to appeal substituting the Administrator for the New South Wales Trustee and Guardian as the second respondent to the appeal. Provision will be made in the final orders of the Court for the filing of a notice of appeal which names the Administrator as the second respondent.
Paragraph 2 of the Motion 7The applicant submitted that the order made by Meagher JA on 30 September 2013 staying the administration of the estate should be continued in order to secure the applicant's entitlement to costs under the Proposed Orders. The main rationale for the stay granted by Meagher JA was to protect the applicant's position in the event that his appeal succeeded and a costs order was made entitling him to be indemnified out of the estate in priority to the payment of other debts of the insolvent estate: Telfer v Telfer [2013] NSWCA 330 at [23]. Although the Proposed Orders allow the applicant's appeal, no order is proposed that would entitle the applicant to an indemnity from the assets of the estate. 8In these circumstances, the applicant has not demonstrated any basis for extending the stay beyond the pronouncement of final orders (when the stay will expire in its own terms). The fact that the respondent may have few assets other than her interest in the estate (as the evidence suggests) does not justify extending the stay.
Paragraph 3 of the Motion 9As Mr Rollinson acknowledged, the relief sought in par 3 of the motion was not sought by the applicant in the proceedings in the Equity Division. In any event, the applicant has no interest that would entitle him to obtain such an order.
Paragraph 4 of the Motion 10Proposed Order 3 in the Principal Judgment at [111] is as follows: "Set aside Orders 5 and 6 made by the primary Judge on 14 June 2013." The applicant submitted that "21 June 2013" should be substituted for "14 June 2013" as Orders 5 and 6 were made by the primary Judge on 21 June 2013. The other parties agreed that Proposed Order 3 required amendment. 11Although the primary Judge delivered the judgment (Neil Ronald Telfer as Executor for the Estate of the late Lyall Telfer v Carolyn Telfer (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 823) on 21 June 2013, his Honour made Orders 5 and 6 on 14 June 2013: see [33]. There is therefore no error in Proposed Order 3. 12The applicant further submitted that Proposed Order 3 in the Principal Judgment should be amended to make it clear that costs orders made in the proceedings prior to the hearing before the primary Judge on 13-14 August 2012 are not to be disturbed. The parties did not provide details of the costs orders made in interlocutory proceedings, but I was informed that there were two such orders, one in favour of the applicant and one in favour of the respondent. 13There is something to be said for regarding each order as cancelling out the other. However, in the absence of further information, it is appropriate for Proposed Order 3 to be amended so that it reads as follows: "Without prejudice to costs orders made in the proceedings prior to 13 August 2012, set aside Orders 5 and 6 made by the primary Judge on 14 June 2013."
Role of the Administrator 14The Administrator stated that he did not wish to make any submissions in relation to the Proposed Orders or to participate in the appeal beyond appearing at the directions hearing.
Orders 15I make the following orders on the applicant's notice of motion: 1The applicant be granted leave to amend the summons for leave to appeal to substitute Kenneth John Fairfax, in his capacity as administrator of the Estate of the late Lyall Telfer, as second respondent in place of the NSW Trustee and Guardian. 2Direct the applicant to file and serve on each of the respondents an amended summons for leave to appeal. 3Otherwise dismiss the applicant's notice of motion filed on 4 July 2014. 4No order as to the costs of the motion. 16Final orders in the appeal will need to be made by the members of the Court who heard the appeal. I anticipate that the following orders will be made: 1Grant the applicant leave to appeal limited to the costs orders made by the primary Judge on 14 June 2013. 2Allow the appeal. 3Direct the applicant to file an amended notice of appeal naming Kenneth John Fairfax, in his capacity as administrator of the estate of the late Lyall Telfer, as the second respondent in place of the NSW Trustee and Guardian. 4Without prejudice to costs orders made in the proceedings prior to 13 August 2012, set aside Orders 5 and 6 made by the primary Judge on 14 June 2013. 5In lieu of Orders 5 and 6 made by the primary Judge on 14 June 2013 and without prejudice to costs orders made in the proceedings prior to 13 August 2012, order each party pay his or her costs of the proceedings. 6The first respondent pay 75 per cent of the appellant's costs of the appeal (including the application for leave to appeal, but excluding the costs of the applicant's motion to adduce further evidence). 7The first respondent, if otherwise qualified, have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW). 17I note that prior to the delivery of this judgment I was informed that the applicant had filed in the Registry an amended summons for leave to appeal and an amended notice of appeal. It is for that reason that the orders set out in [15] and the proposed orders set out in [16] do not include time limits for the filing of these documents.
DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated. Decision last updated: 31 July 2014
Telfer
Telfer
1. Leave granted to amend summons for leave to appeal to substitute administrator as second respondent. 2. Applicant directed to file and serve amended summons. 3. Otherwise, applicant's notice of motion dismissed. 4. No order as to costs of the motion. Anticipated final orders set out including: grant of leave to appeal limited to costs orders; appeal allowed; prior interlocutory costs orders preserved; each party to pay own costs of proceedings (excluding interlocutory orders prior to 13 August 2012); first respondent to pay 75% of appellant's costs of appeal.