Hawks v Shadmar Pty Ltd

[2004] WASC 252

JURISDICTION     :   SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

IN CHAMBERS

CITATION:   HAWKS & ANOR -v- SHADMAR PTY LTD & ANOR [2004] WASC 252

CORAM:   LE MIERE J

HEARD:   27 MAY 2004

DELIVERED          :   26 NOVEMBER 2004

FILE NO/S:   CIV 2348 of 2003

BETWEEN:   GRAHAM ALFRED HAWKS

First Applicant

WESTERN RESOURCES AND EXPLORATION PTY LTD
Second Applicant

AND

SHADMAR PTY LTD
First Respondent

GREGORY PAUL MARTIN
Second Respondent

FILE NO/S              :CIV 1239 of 2004

BETWEEN              :GREGORY PAUL MARTIN

First Plaintiff

SHADMAR PTY LTD
Second Plaintiff

AND

GRAHAM ALFRED HAWKS
First Defendant

WESTERN RESOURCES AND EXPLORATION PTY LTD
Second Defendant

Catchwords:

Case stated - Originating summons for declaration - Whether warden has jurisdiction to hear and determine plaintiffs' claim - Mining Act s 146 - Power to reserve questions of law for opinion of Supreme Court - Whether plaintiffs' action is an action in respect of a trust relating to mining tenements - Mining tenement means presently existing mining tenement

Warden's Court - Jurisdiction - Administrative function when hearing application for forfeiture - Jurisdiction to hear actions in respect of trusts relating to mining tenements or mining - Mining Act s 134 not a source of jurisdiction - Power to reopen decisions

Equity and Trusts - Constructive trust - Distinguished from express and resulting or implied trusts - Remedial character of constructive trust

Legislation:

Mining Act, s 8, s 13, s 62, s 98, s 99, s 100, s 127, s 132, s 134, s 146

Mining Act Regulations, reg 21

Result:

The questions of law reserved for the opinion of the Court by the case stated by the warden are answered as follows: 
1:               No.
2 & 3:          No, because the warden does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine the plaintiffs' claims in action 7/012.

On the originating summons for declaratory relief, the plaintiffs are entitled to a declaration to the effect that the warden's court does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine the plaintiffs' claims in the action commenced by plaint 7/012 before the warden's court at Leonora

Category:    A

Representation:

CIV 2348 of 2003

Counsel:

First Applicant              :     Mr R J L McCormack

Second Applicant          :     Mr R J L McCormack

First Respondent           :     Mr A J N Aristei

Second Respondent       :     Mr A J N Aristei

Solicitors:

First Applicant              :     Taylor Linfoot & Holmes

Second Applicant          :     Taylor Linfoot & Holmes

First Respondent           :     Carles Solicitors

Second Respondent       :     Carles Solicitors

CIV 1239 of 2004

Counsel:

First Plaintiff                :     Mr A J N Aristei

Second Plaintiff            :     Mr A J N Aristei

First Defendant             :     Mr R J L McCormack

Second Defendant         :     Mr R J L McCormack

Solicitors:

First Plaintiff                :     Carles Solicitors

Second Plaintiff            :     Carles Solicitors

First Defendant             :     Taylor Linfoot & Holmes

Second Defendant         :     Taylor Linfoot & Holmes

Case(s) referred to in judgment(s):

DJL v Central Authority (2000) 201 CLR 226

Global Doctor Ltd v Hodgkinson [2003] WASCA 119

His Worship Calder SM, Re Ex parte Gardner (1999)…