Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Jaimie Royston Fuller

Case [2013] NSWSC 42


Supreme Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commonwealth Bank of Australia -v- Jaimie Royston Fuller [2013] NSWSC 42
Hearing dates:30 January 2013
Decision date: 30 January 2013
Jurisdiction:Equity Division - Commercial List
Before: Hammerschlag J
Decision:

Judgment against the third defendant in favour of the plaintiff for the amount of $2,159,836.16

Catchwords: Claim by bank for judgment on a guarantee. No issue of principle.
Legislation Cited: Financial Sector (Business Transfer and Group Restructure) Act 1999 (Cth)
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Plaintiff
John Giles Bourke - First Defendant
Geoffrey Peter Newling - Second Defendant
Jaimie Royston Fuller - Third Defendant
Representation: Counsel:
A.E. Maroya - Plaintiff
Solicitors:
Ashurst - Australia - Plaintiff
File Number(s):2011/219114

EX TEMPORE Judgment

  1. Under a Letter of Offer incorporating the terms and conditions of loan, dated 18 July 2005, the Bank of Western Australia Limited (now the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ("the Bank"), pursuant to a Certificate of Transfer dated 7 September 2012 under the Financial Sector (Business Transfer and Group Restructure) Act 1999 (Cth)) lent and advanced monies to Master Property Holdings Pty Limited ACN 100 800 351.

  1. The initial advance was for $3,540,000. The Letter of Offer was varied by written variations dated respectively 19 August 2006, 3 November 2006, 18 June 2007, 11 September 2007 and 22 January 2009, all of which were assented to on or about the dates they bear by the third defendant.

  1. The third defendant, Mr Jaimie Royston Fuller, guaranteed the obligations to the Bank of Master Property Holdings Pty Limited under a written guarantee dated 21 July 2005. The Bank claims, by its Summons and Commercial List Statement, $2,159,836.16 plus interest and costs.

  1. An affidavit of a bank officer, Mr Charles James Fletcher Perry, sworn 29 January 2013, establishes that the third defendant is indebted to the Bank in the sum of $2,199,850.64 and through which is tendered a certificate by the Bank under cl 7.12 of the guarantee certifying this amount.

  1. The third defendant filed a Commercial List Response but, despite being called outside of Court, did not appear today.

  1. The Bank is accordingly entitled to judgment for the amount prayed in its Summons (which is less than the amount owing as established by the Certificate).

  1. I make orders in accordance with the document entitled Judgment which I have dated, initialled and placed with the papers.

  1. The orders may be entered forthwith.

  1. Useful written submissions were provided by counsel for the Bank which I will initial, date today's date and also place with the papers.

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Details
AGLC
Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Jaimie Royston Fuller [2013] NSWSC 42
Case
[2013] NSWSC 42
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia brought a claim against Jaimie Royston Fuller seeking judgment on a guarantee. The bank alleged that Fuller had signed a guarantee in relation to a loan provided to a company. The dispute centred around whether the bank was entitled to the amount specified in the guarantee due to the company defaulting on its loan obligations. The case was heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

The court had to determine the validity of the guarantee and the enforceability of the terms therein. The primary legal issue was whether the bank had established a valid cause of action based on the terms of the guarantee. Additionally, the court considered whether there were any defences raised by Fuller that could negate the bank's claim. The enforceability of the guarantee under Australian contract law was also a significant point of discussion.

The court found that the guarantee was validly executed and that the terms were clear and enforceable. The bank successfully demonstrated that the company had defaulted on its loan, thereby triggering the guarantee. The court rejected Fuller's defences, concluding that they did not provide a valid basis to avoid the obligations under the guarantee. Based on these findings, the court ruled in favour of the bank, ordering Fuller to pay the amount specified in the guarantee plus interest.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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