Category: Interest in Land Must Exist at Time of Caveating

Blog 76. A collection of claims, none amounting to a caveatable interest.

SJM v PMD & Anor [2023] VSC 349, Daly AsJ.

This case concerns a persistent user of the court system with sundry claims, none caveatable.  Interestingly Daly AsJ essays a definition of what is an estate or interest in land (this being the basis of a caveatable interest under the Transfer of Land Act s. 89).  Lawyers find it easier to say whether, in the particular circumstances of a case, an interest in land exists, than to define one.  Relying on Victorian authority her Honour stated –

“An estate or interest in land required to support a caveat must be an interest in respect of which equity would give specific relief against the land itself, either by way of requiring the provision of a registrable instrument or in some other way, for example, ordering a sale to enable a charge to be satisfied out of the proceeds.”

This is a comprehensive definition though not complete, because, for example it does not cover the interest of an adverse possessor, held caveatable in Nicholas Olandezos v Bhatha & Ors [2017] VSC 234 at [35], [37], nor rights of a legal not equitable nature.  In that case Derham AsJ stated at [18] –

“First, the Caveators must establish that there is a prima facie case – there is a probability on the evidence before the Court that the Caveators will be found to have the asserted legal or equitable rights or interest in the disputed land by adverse possession.”

Any general statement of what is an estate or interest in land also depends on context.  So in Stow v Mineral Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (1979) 180 CLR 295, which concerned the requirement that permitted objectors to the grant of a mining licence claim an estate or interest in land, Aickin J. stated at [21] –

“In my opinion the ordinary meaning of the compound expression “estate or interest in land” is an estate or interest of a proprietary nature in the land.  This would include legal and equitable estates and interests, e.g., a freehold or a leasehold estate, or incorporeal interests such as easements, profits a prendre, all such interests being held by persons in their individual capacity.  It does not embrace interests in which the person concerned has no greater claim than any other member of the public.”

  The facts were as follows –

  • The plaintiff and the first defendant (defendant) were in a de facto relationship for about a decade until 2010.  In 2003 the plaintiff purchased a property at Hoddles Creek of which she was sole registered proprietor and where they cohabited until she moved interstate in 2010, returning, she alleged, in 2012 to retake exclusive possession.  In 2012 the defendant caveated claiming an implied, resulting or constructive trust, the grounds of the claim being an alleged constructive trust.
  • On 15 August 2012 the Federal Magistrates’ Court made final consent orders in a proceeding commenced by the defendant including providing three alternatives for disposal of the property.  The first alternative (in paragraph 2 of the orders) was that the defendant pay the plaintiff $110,000 by 15 November 2012 in exchange for a transfer of her interest in the land with him discharging the mortgage and performing certain other obligations.  Failing this alternative being taken, the second alternative gave her an election to retain the property and to pay him $50,000 in exchange for withdrawal of the caveat.  Failing both the foregoing alternatives the property was to be sold and proceeds distributed in a particular manner.  Other orders included (in paragraph 5.2) that the parties would hold their respective interests in the land on trust pursuant to these orders.  The orders concluded that pursuant to s. 81 of the Family Law Act the parties intended them to, as far as practicable, finally determine their financial relationship and avoid further proceedings.
  • Due, the defendant alleged, to the plaintiff’s non-co-operation with his pursuit of the first alternative, he filed an application returnable on 31 October 2012 to enforce the final orders (the enforcement application) chiefly to require the plaintiff to give effect to the first alternative.  The case was not reached, but on that day the plaintiff’s solicitor deposed to holding the required completed Transfer document and that his client was ready, willing and able to settle the sale in accordance with the first alternative on 15 November.
  • Although the orders of 15 August required payment by 15 November the parties agreed to extend the time for settlement to 11.30am on 16 November.  The enforcement application was relisted at 10am on 16 November and stood down pending settlement of the transfer.  However, the transaction did not settle at 11.30am due to a discrepancy between the Transfer and a mortgage, the defendant’s lender Westpac requiring the parties to execute a new Transfer to conform with the terms upon which it had agreed to advance finance.  The defendant and his solicitors then took steps to remedy this and planned to be able to settle at 3:30pm.  However, at about 1.40pm the plaintiff elected to take the second alternative.  When the hearing resumed at around 2.30pm counsel for the defendant sought orders compelling the parties to attend settlement at 3:30pm.  The Federal Magistrate dismissed both this application and the enforcement application on the basis that both parties had complied with their obligations but the bank had prevented settlement, and that to order the parties to attend settlement at 3.30pm would conflict with the orders of 15 August.
  • In December 2012 and February 2014 the defendant refused the plaintiff’s tender of $50,000.
  • In January 2014 an application for leave to appeal against the dismissal of the enforcement application was itself dismissed but the judge commented in substance that instead of appealing the defendant should have commenced proceedings under s. 90SN(1)(c) of the Family Law Act which provided that if, on application by a person affected by an order in property settlement proceedings, the court was satisfied that a person had defaulted in carrying out an obligation imposed by the order and it was just and equitable, the court had a discretion to vary or set aside the order and if appropriate substitute another order.  An application to the High Court for special leave to appeal against the judge’s decision failed.
  • In February 2014 the defendant filed a contravention application in the Federal Circuit Court directed at the plaintiff and her solicitors.  This was dismissed in September 2014, and an application to the Family Court for leave to appeal against this dismissal was itself dismissed except as to a question of possession of chattels which was remitted to the Federal Circuit Court, and an application to the High Court for special leave to appeal against the Family Court decision was itself dismissed.  On the remitted question the defendant failed as did an appeal against this dismissal.
  • The plaintiff applied for removal of the caveat under the Transfer of Land Act s. 90(3), for an injunction restraining the defendant from further caveating, and for compensation under s. 118.  The defendant argued that he had an equitable interest in the land by reason of being the beneficiary of a trust created by the final orders dated 15 August 2012 and having the potential to bring an application to have the orders dismissing the enforcement application and/or the contravention application varied or set aside for fraud.  He also contended that failure of the transaction to settle at 11.30am on 16 November 2012 was not attributable to the action of his bank but to the plaintiff’s actions.

Daly AsJ ordered removal of the caveat on condition that on any sale or refinancing $50,000 be set aside to meet the defendant’s entitlements under the final orders, holding –

  1. An estate or interest in land required to support a caveat must be an interest in respect of which equity would give specific relief against the land itself, either by way of requiring the provision of a registrable instrument or in some other way, for example, ordering a sale to enable a charge to be satisfied out of the proceeds. [67]
  2. The allegation that there was fraud arising from the solicitor for the plaintiff’s affidavit sworn on 31 October 2012, or by counsel’s statements during the hearing on 16 November, was untenable. However, any claim to set aside an order for fraud, which in the case of the orders in the enforcement and contravention applications was accordingly very weak (the strength of the caveator’s claim being relevant to whether the caveat should be maintained), was a mere equity, not a proprietary interest, and so did not found a caveatable interest. [72]-[74], [86]-[90]
  3. Section 91(1) of the Evidence Act 2008 provided that evidence of a decision, or a finding of fact in another proceeding was inadmissible to prove the existence of a fact that was in issue in that proceeding. However, it was doubtful that s. 91(1) excluded evidence contained in reasons for judgment of admissions or concessions made by a party in the course of the other proceeding. The defendant had made such admissions or concessions to the effect that the plaintiff’s bank could discharge its mortgage by the scheduled date.  And the defendant or his counsel had in previous proceedings repeatedly acknowledged that the defendant’s bank was responsible for the failure to settle on 16 November 2012. [82]-[84]
  4. Any claim under the Family Law Act s. 90SN(1) was a statutory claim incapable of giving rise to an equitable interest. [90]
  5. The interpretation of the final orders and of the plaintiff’s entitlement to elect to take the second alternative had been litigated extensively. The defendant was estopped from further litigating either his entitlements under the final orders or the validity of this election.  Even if the question of the alleged fraud had not yet been expressly raised in previous court proceedings, then they should have been so raised having regard to the principles of Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun (1981) 147 CLR 589.  It was unreasonable for the defendant not to have raised allegations of fraud in the actual enforcement and contravention applications. [90], [93]
  6. The court had considered whether the defendant had any caveatable interest, not just that claimed in the caveat (a claim to the constructive trust having been subsumed in the final orders). And, although in the final orders of 15 August 2012 paragraph 2 gave the defendant an equitable interest in the property akin to that of a purchaser (which alternative had not however been taken) and paragraph 5.2 created a trust, that trust did not survive one of the alternatives in the orders being taken. [71], [94]-[96], [99]
  7. The balance of convenience overwhelmingly favoured removal of the caveat because of the plaintiff’s financial circumstances. [100]
  8. Given the history of litigation and circumstances of the case the defendant was restrained from lodging any further caveats over the land. [103]

Philip H. Barton

          Owen Dixon Chambers West

        Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Blog 62. Caveators lost in blizzard, but obtain injunction.

Reindel & Ors v Confreight Pty Ltd & Ors (No 2) [2022] VSC 442, Daly AsJ (8 August 2022).

This case arises from the same development as that the subject of Blog 61.   It concerns imposition of caveats based on Barnes v Addy claims, no caveatable interest being found to exist. In the 1874 English case of Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch. App. 244 at 251 – 252 Lord Selborne LC stated –

“Those who create a trust clothe the trustee with a legal power and control over the trust property, imposing on him a corresponding responsibility.  That responsibility may no doubt be extended in equity to others who are not properly trustees, if … But, on the other hand, strangers are not to be made constructive trustees merely because they act as the agents of trustees in transactions within their legal powers … unless those agents receive and become chargeable with some part of the trust property, or unless they assist with knowledge in a dishonest and fraudulent design on the part of the trustees”.

Subsequent cases have worked out the scope of these principles, known as the “first and second limbs of Barnes v Addy”, ie knowing receipt of trust property or dishonest assistance in a breach of trust (being an accessorial liability).

The facts were –

  • In around 2015 Messrs Reindel, Murone and Monson decided to carry out a multi – unit residential development in Windsor. A company (WDC) was incorporated to perform the development.  It was trustee of a unit trust in which Confreight Pty Ltd (Confreight) and Supply Chain Logistics (SCL) controlled respectively by Murone and Monson together held 35%, and an entity associated with Reindel held 65%, of the units.  In 2020 the development was completed and WDC was wound up with negligible return to Confreight and SCL.
  • Five residential units in the development valued at approximately $2 m. in total had been transferred by WDC, one to Reindel and four to a company controlled by him (Blizzard Winds).  On 3 February 2021 the liquidator wrote to the unit holders in the trust seeking information including on this transfer.  On 15 February 2021 the liquidator made his statutory report including stating that there were claims totalling over $2 m. by unsecured creditors.
  • In the first half of 2021 Confreight and SCL caveated over the five Windsor units and over a Toorak property of which Reindel’s wife Ms Runhardt had been registered proprietor since 2015. Relevantly the interest in land claimed was as beneficiary of an “implied, resulting or constructive trust”.
  • In July 2021 Reindel and associated parties commenced a proceeding under the Transfer of Land Act s. 90(3) to remove the caveats. The caveators opposed this and, if their opposition failed, applied to restrain the registered proprietors from dealing with the land pending the determination of their proceeding referred to below.
  • In August 2021 Confreight and SCL commenced a proceeding (the investors’ proceeding) alleging inter alia that: Reindel had caused WDC to transfer much cash and the Windsor units to himself and his associated entities for little or no consideration; by reason of his alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and of trust they were inter alia entitled to orders that property of the unit trust be transferred to WDC (in its capacity as trustee), and/or equitable compensation for the value of property transferred from WDC in breach of trust or for less than market value, and certain other relief.
  • The defendants to the investors’ proceeding in substance denied the allegations against them, alleging that transfers were in reduction of debts duly owing.
  • The plaintiffs in the investors’ proceeding also alleged that Reindel had used WDC’s funds for mortgage payments on and renovations to the Toorak property. Reindel admitted these payments into his and Runhardt’s joint account, and that payments were applied to paying the mortgage, but denied misappropriation.  The plaintiffs also alleged that Runhardt participated in Reindel’s breach of fiduciary duty and breach of trust by receiving trust property with knowledge of his breaches.  Runhardt basically denied all allegations concerning her.
  • On 14 September 2021 WDC’s liquidator applied to intervene in the caveat proceeding, supported by an affidavit exhibiting his letter of 3 February and his report. He subsequently did not pursue this application.
  • The caveat and injunction proceedings were heard in October 2021 with judgment reserved. Although no orders were made in the caveat or the investors’ proceeding that the evidence in one proceeding would stand as evidence in the other Daly AsJ would (footnote [92]) if necessary have ordered this now as for then (traditionally “nunc pro tunc”). Her Honour stated ([25]) that the findings and issues raised by the liquidator’s report and letter and WDC’s accounting records were a generally reliable guide to the affairs of WDC and the unit trust, although it was unnecessary for present purposes to determine whether the concerns raised therein had been established.  Her Honour noted ([64]) that the liquidator’s affidavit, his letter, his report and the accounting records revealed evidence of the transfers of Windsor units being for no consideration or at an undervalue, although it was premature to conclusively determine whether in breach of trust or otherwise invalid (also [34]).
  • In January 2022 the liquidator sought, inter alia, court approval to enter an agreement to assign certain unspecified causes of action to a Mr Baker – it was unclear but her Honour inferred that there was a substantial overlap between these causes of action and those in the investors’ proceeding ([31]). The liquidator also applied to be appointed as a receiver of the unit trust, deposing that he believed that this was necessitated by cl. 12.5 of the trust deed which provided that on its liquidation WDC ceased to be trustee of the trust.
  • Clause 37 of the trust deed provided:

“the rights of the trustee to indemnity for losses … and to recoupment for expenditure incurred shall … be limited to the monies and property comprising the Trust Fund … but this clause shall not be construed as in any way limiting the liability of any trustee (or of any director of a company which is a trustee hereof) to the unit holders for any breach of trust involving the dishonesty or wilful act or omission of that trustee or director.”

Daly AsJ removed the caveats but granted an interlocutory injunction restraining Reindel and Blizzard Winds from dealing with their residential units –

  1. The possibility of the caveators having a prima facie case of an interest in the land was undermined if they lacked standing to bring their claims in the investors’ proceeding, or this was in doubt. Generally the proper party to bring a claim to recover trust property was the trustee but this was subject to “special circumstances”, eg collusion between the third party wrongdoer and the trustee, insolvency of the trustee, or where the trustee was unwilling or unable to take action to recover trust property. There were real doubts whether the caveators had standing to, in effect, recover WDC’s property.  Alternatively, any claim for damages and/or equitable compensation would have to be calculated by reference to their shares in the unit trust.  [40]-[41], [46], [47]
  2. Confreight and SCL could also in their capacity as shareholders of WDC apply under s. 237 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to bring a derivative action to bring the claims in the investors’ proceeding on behalf of WDC. This application had not been made, although they had made an informal application for leave to continue the investors’ proceeding standing in the shoes of WDC in its capacity as trustee. [48]
  3. On the issue of standing, the position was somewhat fluid and far from clear cut. There was some doubt whether on its liquidation WDC remained as trustee of the unit trust or whether the liquidator was ready, willing, and able to pursue any claim by WDC against third parties for the benefit of the beneficiaries (and creditors) of the trust, but it appeared that liquidator had not reached a final position.  Clause 37 of the trust deed preserved the beneficiaries’ entitlement to pursue claims against the trustee and the directors, at least on their own behalf. And although the plaintiffs arguably needed curial leave to proceed with their claims in the investors’ proceeding to recover trust property, it was in the context of the current case neither necessary nor appropriate to determine the possible fate of this application for leave.  It was accordingly difficult for present purposes finally to resolve the question of standing and this undermined the caveats, given that the entitlement to lodge a caveat must exist at the time of lodgement. [55], [56], [57], [62], [63]
  4. The caveators must demonstrate a prima facie case, ie a probability of being found to have the asserted legal or equitable rights or interest in the land. The ‘prima facie case’ test was preferable to the ‘serious question to be tried’ test of such rights or interest. [69]-[70]
  5. The caveats over the Toorak property were unsustainable. Runhardt was alleged at most to have accessorial liability for Reindel’s (and WDC’s) alleged breach of trust.  In Barnes v Addy cases a constructive trust was only imposed over the property concerned on a curial determination to this effect.  Until then there was no proprietary interest, even where it was claimed that trust property could be “traced” to a particular (other) property.  Further, any “notice” Runhardt had of Reindel’s alleged breach of trust postdated her becoming registered proprietor of the Toorak property. [80]-[82], [91(c)], [138]
  6. Even if breach of trust or of fiduciary duty was established against Reindel or WDC, the liability of Blizzard Winds was (notwithstanding that Reindel was its sole director) only accessorial. Further, even if the transfers to Blizzard Winds were arguably tainted by fraud which could be sheeted home to it so it lost the protection of indefeasibility of title, and a court ultimately determined to impose a constructive trust over the units, the entitlement of a former registered proprietor to set aside a transfer for fraud was an in personam claim giving rise to a mere equity, not an equitable and so caveatable interest.  Accordingly the caveats over its property would also be removed. [83]-[87], [91], [94], [96], [138]
  7. The claim concerning the transfer to Reindel was also only an in personam claim incapable of supporting a caveat. [87], [91(a)], [94], [96], [138]
  8. However, Reindel and Blizzard Winds would be restrained from dealing with the units transferred to them. Runhardt would not be restrained from dealing with the Toorak property. [117]-[121], [133], [137], [138]

       Philip H. Barton

          Owen Dixon Chambers West

        Monday, November 7, 2022

32. Where B wrongfully acquires monies from A, which B passes on to a third party, who uses such monies to purchase land of which it becomes registered proprietor – Or where B fraudulently transfers land owned by A to a third party who becomes registered proprietor – Caveat by A upheld if there is a constructive trust in A’s favour, but not if there is a mere equity to set aside the transfer – Contrast between AE Brighton Holdings Pty Ltd v UDP Holdings Pty Ltd and Super Jacobs & Anor v Esera Faalogo & Ors.

In AE Brighton Holdings Pty Ltd v UDP Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 688 (15 October 2019) Ginnane J. the facts were –

  • Esposito Holdings Pty Ltd (Esposito Holdings) agreed to sell and the first defendant (UDP) agreed to purchase the issued shares in a company. An arbitration occurred related to disputes arising under that agreement.  The arbitral award stated that Esposito Holdings had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct contrary to s. 18 of Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and director Mr Antonio Esposito was involved in the contravention within the meaning of s. 2(1) and for the purposes of s. 236 of Schedule 2.  The award also declared that on and from 31 January 2014 Esposito Holdings held the purchase price on constructive trust for UDP which had suffered loss of $54,144,847.
  • The plaintiff (AE Brighton) purchased and became registered proprietor of four properties.
  • There was prima facie evidence that, when Mr Esposito was also sole shareholder and director of AE Brighton, part of the purchase price received from UDP under the share sale agreement was paid by Esposito Holdings, possibly through another company controlled by Mr Esposito, to AE Brighton to purchase the properties, possibly in the case of one purchase through repayment of an earlier loan used for that purchase.
  • In 2018 the Supreme Court gave UDP leave to enforce the award and ordered that the award was given effect as a judgment of the Court.
  • UDP caveated over the properties on the grounds of an implied, resulting or constructive trust.
  • Subsequently AE Brighton entered a contract to sell two of the properties.

Ginnane J dismissed an application by AE Brighton for the caveats to be removed, but required the caveator to commence proceedings promptly to support its claim, on the following grounds –

  1. Where a trustee wrongfully used trust money to provide part of the cost of acquiring an asset, the beneficiary was entitled at his option either to claim a proportionate share of the asset or to enforce a lien upon it to secure his personal claim against the trustee for the amount of the misapplied money. It was irrelevant whether the trustee mixed the trust money with his own in a single fund before using it to acquire the asset, or made separate payments (whether simultaneously or sequentially) out of the differently owned funds to acquire a single asset.  This principle was not reliant on proof of fraud, merely on breach of trust. [32]-[33]
  2. Based on this principle there was a prima facie case that the caveator had an estate or interest in the properties as a beneficiary under a constructive trust. This arose from money (ie the purchase money under the share sale agreement) obtained by Esposito Holdings as a result of misleading or deceptive conduct, from which the caveator suffered loss, held on trust by Esposito Holdings for the caveator, being paid in breach of trust by Esposito Holdings to AE Brighton which used it to purchase the properties.  While the evidence in the arbitration did not bind AE Brighton, because it was not a party to the arbitration, it was relevant in determining this prima facie case. [28], [36], [37], [38], [40], [41]
  3. AE Brighton had more than a mere equity, which was not an equitable estate and so not caveatable. [30]-[31]
  4. Although the court took into account that AE Brighton had entered into two contracts of sale, the caveats predated the contracts and AE Brighton had made no submission about how, taking into account the interests of the mortgagees and other caveators, the caveator’s security interest in the properties could be protected if the caveats were removed. Accordingly the balance of convenience favoured maintenance of the caveats on terms requiring the caveator to commence its proposed proceeding promptly. [42]-[43]

An application for leave to appeal against this decision has been lodged, the respondent’s application for security for costs being dismissed: AE Brighton Holdings Pty Ltd v UDP Holdings Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 43.

In Super Jacobs & Anor v Esera Faalogo & Ors [2019] VSC 778 (3 December 2019) Daly AsJ the facts were –

  • The defendants were registered proprietors of a residential property. They were migrants, of limited means, not highly educated or familiar with legal or financial matters.  In 2016 they gave a general power of attorney to a mortgage broker who they believed was arranging finance for them to be secured against their property.
  • In 2017 the mortgage broker, the defendants’ claimed fraudulently, used the power to execute a contract of sale of the land to the plaintiffs who became registered proprietors in June 2018. The sale was not by auction or private treaty or advertised and had other unusual features.
  • The defendants received no funds from sale, subsequently discovered this transfer, and later in 2018 caveated on the ground of: “Registered proprietor(s) being entitled to possession of the certificate of title for the land and to prevent improper dealings”. This was one of the grounds of claim in the drop-down menu in the Registrar of Titles’ electronic lodgment service.
  • The plaintiffs applied for removal of the caveat and for an order for possession.

Daly AsJ removed the caveat, holding –

  1. Even if (which they denied) the plaintiffs obtained the property by fraud or improper dealing the caveators’ claim to have the transfer set aside on the grounds of a fraud by, or which could be sheeted home to, the registered proprietors was not an interest or estate in land. They did not hold an equitable interest in the property until the claim was made good in a court.  Until then their equitable right to assail the transfer for fraud was a ‘mere equity’, being a personal right of action.  On the same principle, if a mortgagee sold land in breach of its duties to the mortgagor the mortgagor had only an equity to set aside the pending transfer of land and could not caveat. [18]-[20], [28]-[32]
  2. Accepting for present purposes that the mortgage broker owed the defendants a fiduciary duty, and that as such, if (as they denied) the plaintiffs were knowingly concerned in the broker’s breach of trust, or were a knowing recipient of trust property (being the land), then the plaintiffs may be liable to the defendants pursuant to the principles in Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch. App. 244 with the remedy of a remedial constructive trust. However, this did not convert the defendants’ potential claim into an equitable interest as opposed to a personal claim against the plaintiffs.  This was to be contrasted with an equitable interest arising from proprietary estoppel or a common intention constructive trust: in such a case the equitable interest arose from when the promise was relied upon or the common intention was given effect. [34]-[36]
  3. It was accordingly unnecessary to consider whether the caveat ought to be removed because the grounds of claim did not refer to an interest in land known to the law, or whether the caveat should be amended. [37]
  4. If the defendants had had an interest in the land the balance of convenience would have been in their favour. [17]

Comment.  Both cases considered the decision of the Full Court in Swanston Mortgage Pty Ltd v Trepan Investments Pty Ltd [1994] 1 VR 672 that where, under the Torrens system, a mortgagee sells in breach of its duties to the mortgagor, the mortgagor has an equity to set aside the pending transfer of land, but until the equity is made good by bringing a successful claim the mortgagor has no equitable interest in the land and therefore no right to caveat.  The first case distinguished it.  The second applied it.

The principle that the interest claimed in the caveat must be in existence at the time of its lodgment – it was not enough that the caveator had commenced proceedings which may result in such an interest being vested in him or her – was also asserted in Boensch v Pascoe [2019] HCA 49 which was the subject of Blog 29.

Philip H. Barton

Owen Dixon Chambers West

20 April 2020

 

29. A rare High Court foray into caveats – a claim for compensation under the equivalent of the TLA s. 118 – in what circumstances a trustee in bankruptcy has a caveatable interest – whether the interest claimed was correctly stated in the caveat – why maintenance of a caveat does not require an undertaking as to damages.

Boensch v Pascoe [2019] HCA 49 (13 December 2019) concerned the interaction between bankruptcy law and NSW caveats law, materially identical to Victorian law.  The following provisions of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 were relevant:

Upon a person becoming bankrupt, s 58(1) vests in the trustee in bankruptcy property then belonging to the bankrupt that is divisible among the bankrupt’s creditors together with any rights or powers in relation to that property that would have been exercisable by the person had the person not become a bankrupt.  Excluded by s. 116(2)(a) from the divisible property is property held in trust by the bankrupt for another person.  However where the person who becomes bankrupt is a trustee of property who has incurred liabilities in the performance of the trust, such entitlement as the person has in equity to be indemnified out of the property held on trust gives rise to an equitable interest in the property held on trust taking that property outside the exclusion in s 116(2)(a) (on the basis that the exclusion is limited to property held by the bankrupt solely in trust for another person).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the property held on trust by the bankrupt out of which the bankrupt had an entitlement in equity to be indemnified comprised legal title to land registered under the Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) (“the NSW Act”) (ie the equivalent of the Transfer of Land Act 1958), what was vested in the trustee in bankruptcy until the trustee could obtain legal title by registration was only the equitable estate (s. 58(2)).

The NSW Act provided:

any person who, “by devolution of law or otherwise, claims to be entitled to a legal or equitable estate or interest in land” under the provisions of the Act “may lodge with the Registrar-General a caveat prohibiting the recording of any dealing affecting the estate or interest to which the person claims to be entitled” (s. 74F(1));

a caveat must be in the approved form and specify “the prescribed particulars of the legal or equitable estate or interest … to which the caveator claims to be entitled” (s. 74F(5));

failures strictly to comply with the formal requirements for caveats are to be disregarded by a court in determining the validity of a caveat (s. 74L);

upon application by the registered proprietor the Registrar-General was required to serve a notice on the caveator that it would lapse unless within 21 days from service the caveator obtained and lodged a Supreme Court order extending the caveat (s. 74J(1));

any person who is or claims to be entitled to an estate or interest in the land described in a caveat may apply to the Supreme Court for an order that the caveat be withdrawn by the caveator (s. 74MA(1));

any person who, “without reasonable cause” lodges or after request refuses to withdraw a caveat is liable to pay compensation to any person who sustains pecuniary loss attributable to the lodging of the caveat, or the refusal or failure to withdraw it (s. 74P(1)).

The facts were –

  • Mr and Mrs Boensch were registered proprietors of a property.  He claimed that in 1999 they had reached a matrimonial property settlement under which she agreed for consideration to transfer her interest in the property to him.  He also claimed that in 1999 they had executed a Memorandum of Trust which included that she would cause her share of ownership to be transferred to him to hold the whole of land in trust, in substance for their children, and would arrange for a professionally drafted trust document.
  • In October 2003 he was served with a bankruptcy notice.
  • He claimed that in March 2004 they had executed a deed of trust confirming the settlement upon him as trustee in the 1999 Memorandum of Trust, constituting “the Boensch trust”and creating their children as First Group Beneficiaries.
  • On 23 August 2005 a sequestration order was made against him.  The trustee in bankruptcy was legally advised that there were strong prospects of defeating the trust claim.  Documents produced by the bankrupt did not lead the trustee to a contrary view.  On 25 August 2005 the trustee lodged a caveat claiming a “Legal Interest pursuant to the Bankruptcy Act 1966”.
  • Documents and evidence subsequently produced by the bankrupt were for a long time unconvincing.   However in December 2007 a court held that the Memorandum of Trust was not a sham and that it manifested a sufficient intention to constitute a trust.   Appeals failed.
  • The caveat lapsed on 15 September 2009.
  • The bankrupt took proceedings claiming compensation under s. 74P(1).  The primary judge concluded that, because the bankrupt had not proven that the trustee in bankruptcy lacked a caveatable interest it could not be said that the trustee had lodged or maintained the caveat without “reasonable cause”, but that even if the trustee had not had a caveatable interest he nevertheless had an honest belief based on reasonable grounds that he had a caveatable interest and thus reasonable cause to lodge and maintain the caveat within the meaning of s. 74P(1).
  • An appeal by the bankrupt failed but he obtained special leave to appeal to the High Court.  The appeal was unanimously dismissed.  There were two judgments: by Bell, Nettle, Gordon and Edelman JJ.; by Kiefel CJ, Gageler and Keane JJ.  Unless otherwise stated references below are to the judgment of the plurality.  The following propositions emerge from the judgments –
  1. Provided the bankrupt had a valid beneficial interest in the trust property, the trust property vested in the trustee in bankruptcy subject to the equities to which it was subject in the hands of the bankrupt.  For these purposes, a valid beneficial interest meant a vested or (subject to applicable laws as to remoteness of vesting) contingent right or power to obtain some personal benefit from the trust property. [15]
  2. Notwithstanding s. 58(1), a legal estate or interest in land subject to the Real Property Act could not pass to the bankrupt’s trustee in bankruptcy unless and until the trustee applied and subsequently became registered as proprietor of the land.  After this the trustee still held the estate or interest subject to the equities to which it was subject in the hands of the bankrupt. [94]
  3. The onus was on Mr Boensch to establish that he had lacked any valid beneficial interest in the property.  However, the evidence established that he had a beneficial interest in the property – to the extent of his right to retain the property as security for satisfaction of his right of indemnity as trustee of the Boensch trust.  By reason of that beneficial interest, an estate in the property vested forthwith in equity in the trustee in bankruptcy pursuant to s. 58 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966, subject to a subtrust on the terms of the Boensch Trust but permitting the trustee to exercise the right of indemnity.  On that basis, the trustee in bankruptcy was entitled to be registered as proprietor and that was a sufficient basis to sustain his caveat. [102], [116] (Similarly Kiefel CJ, Gageler and Keane JJ at [2]).
  4. There was a division of opinion on whether the interest claimed in the caveat, ie “Legal Interest pursuant to the Bankruptcy Act 1966”, was adequate.  On the one hand, expressing themselves very cautiously, the plurality stated that ([107]) “Generally speaking” it was to be doubted that this claimed interest was adequate to describe an equitable estate vested in a trustee in bankruptcy pursuant to s. 58(2) by reason of the bankrupt’s right of indemnity.  While noting that NSW statutory provisions did not require the caveat to specify whether the interest claimed was legal or equitable, their Honours gave reasons why this wording was inadequate, stating that ([107]) it “may be accepted that a court would not ordinarily make an order under s. 74K(2) of the NSW Act extending the operation of a caveat which employed that description”; and stating in a footnote that it was unnecessary to determine whether the court would have power to order amendment of the caveat in those circumstances referring to Percy & Michele Pty Ltd v Gangemi [2010] VSC 530 at [92]- [102] per Macaulay J.On the other hand Kiefel CJ, Gageler and Keane JJ held that the equitable estate vested in the bankrupt was adequately described in the caveat [11].
  5. The trustee in bankruptcy also had good reason to believe, as he did, that the Boensch Trust was not validly constituted.  However, the possibility that the trust might have been set aside under the Bankruptcy Act would not have been sufficient to sustain the caveat.  The interest asserted in the caveat must be in existence at the time of its lodgment.  The assertion by a caveator, who at the time of the lodgment did not have an estate or interest in the land, that he had commenced proceedings which may result in such an interest being vested in him did not suffice. [103] – [104]
  6. The test for liability under s. 74P(1) was established in Beca Developments Pty Ltd v Idameneo (No 92) Pty Ltd (1990) 21 NSWLR 459 at which time the statutory words were “wrongfully without reasonable cause”.  This test was that the claimant for compensation must establish that the caveator had neither a caveatable interest nor an honest belief based on reasonable grounds that the caveator had a caveatable interest (and thus “without reasonable cause”), and that the caveator acted deliberately, knowing that he or she had no interest in the land (and thus “wrongfully”).  Notwithstanding the repeal of “wrongfully” this remained the correct test. [110], [111] (Similarly Kiefel CJ, Gageler and Keane JJ at [12]).
  7. The plurality noted that the Beca Developments test had been substantially followed by intermediate courts in other States including in Edmonds v Donovan [2005] VSCA 27;  (2005) 12 VR 513 at 548 per Phillips JA (Winneke P and Charles JA agreeing at 516 [2], [3]).  The High Court however left open whether, if that test is not satisfied, a person may still be liable under s. 74P(1) by reason of acting with an ulterior motive or where the only interest supporting a caveat is de minimis in terms of legal content or economic value. [114]
  8. Accordingly provided the caveat was lodged on the basis of an honest belief on reasonable grounds that the bankrupt had an extant beneficial interest in the property (including a beneficial interest by way of right of indemnity) the trustee in bankruptcy had reasonable cause to do so.  In fact there was a caveatable interest here.  Further the trustee honestly believed on reasonable grounds that the property vested in him either because the trust was void or because of the bankrupt’s right of indemnity [105], [108], [116] (Similarly Kiefel CJ, Gageler and Keane JJ at [12]).
  9. Even if, as the plurality had held, there was a mere technical deficiency in the statement of the interest claimed this did not of itself demonstrate the absence of a “reasonable cause” to lodge and not withdraw the caveat, at least where the caveat did not overstate the interest sought to be protected. [108]
  10. The plurality noted that, although a caveat was “a statutory injunction to keep the property in statu quo until [the caveator’s] title shall have been fully investigated”, unlike an application for interlocutory injunction it did not have to be supported by an undertaking as to damages.  Their Honours justified this on the ground that the holder of an unregistered interest in land under the Torrens system is more vulnerable to inconsistent dealings. [113].

Comment: The equivalent Victorian provision to s. 74P(1) is the TLA s. 118 which provides –

“Any person lodging with the Registrar without reasonable cause any caveat under this Act shall be liable to make to any person who sustains damage thereby such compensation as a court deems just and orders”.

Accordingly the two provisions are materially the same and the High Court’s decision applies in Victoria.  The test in Victoria has however been the same as in NSW, or virtually so, as illustrated in Blogs 9 and 24.

The case is also instructive on –

  1. whether the interest claimed in the caveat was correct.  The comment in paragraph 4 above that the NSW statutory provisions did not require the caveat to specify whether the interest claimed was legal or equitable applies equally in Victoria – the TLA s. 89 simply requires that caveator be a person “claiming any estate or interest in land”;
  2. the interest claimed in the caveat must be in existence at the time of its lodgment – it is not enough that the caveator has commenced proceedings which may result in such an interest being vested in him – paragraph 5 above;
  3. why an undertaking as to damages is not normally required – paragraph 10 above.