McEntee v Khoury

Case [2006] FMCA 696


FEDERAL MAGISTRATES COURT OF AUSTRALIA

McENTEE & ANOR v KHOURY [2006] FMCA 696
BANKRUPTCY – Application for appointment of Trustee under s.50 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).
Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), s.50
Applicants: LEONE McENTEE & PAUL GERLACH
Respondent: GEORGE KHOURY
File number: SYG1358 of 2006
Judgment of: Lloyd-Jones FM
Hearing date: 11 May 2006
Delivered at: Sydney
Delivered on: 11 May 2006

REPRESENTATION

Solicitors for the Applicants: Ms K Britton of Sally Nash & Co
Respondent: No appearance by or on behalf of the respondent

ORDERS

  1. Scott Darren Pascoe be appointed Trustee of the property of George Khoury pursuant to s.50 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).

  2. The Trustee’s control of the estate of the debtor is to cease upon


    30 June 2006 unless extended by order of this court upon application served personally upon the debtor not less than two business days prior thereto.

  3. Service of the Notice of Motion today be dispensed with.

  4. Costs are reserved.

FEDERAL MAGISTRATES
COURT OF AUSTRALIA AT
SYDNEY

SYG1358 of 2006

LEONE MCENTEE & PAUL GERLACH

Applicants

And

GEORGE KHOURY

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

The Proceedings

  1. This was an urgent application brought by the solicitors for the applicant creditors’ seeking the following interim orders pursuant to s.50 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) (“the Act”):

    a)That this application be filed in Court and heard instanter.

    b)The Court give directions to disburse with service of this application or abridge service.

    c)That an order under s.50 of the Act be made against the estate of George Khoury.

    d)Scott Darren Pascoe be appointed Trustee pursuant to s.50 of the Act.

    e)The Court to direct a date for the Trustee’s control of the debtor’s properties to end.

    f)Costs reserved.

    g)Such further orders as the Court deems fit.

  2. The applicant creditors rely on the following information:

    a)Affidavit of Sally Susan Nash, solicitor, sworn on 9 May 2006;

    b)Affidavit of service of bankruptcy notice of Joseph Khoury, licensed commercial agent, sworn 5 May 2006.

Reasons

  1. I have read the affidavit of Sally Susan Nash, sworn on 9 May 2006 (“affidavit of Ms Nash”) together with the attachments to that affidavit and heard short submissions from Ms K Britton, solicitor, representing the firm of Sally Nash & Co. I am satisfied that the conditions of s.50 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) have been complied with and it is appropriate that I make orders in the terms handed up by the applicants’ solicitor incorporating a termination date for the Trustee, which is approximately five (5) weeks from which the time limits contained in the bankruptcy notice expire.

  2. The applicant creditors have a judgment against the respondent debtor for a sum of $296,640.75 made in the District Court of New South Wales, Sydney Registry, file number 4549 of 2005, dated 21 October 2005.  The certificate of judgment issued on 5 April 2006 by the Registrar of the District Court of New South Wales for Sydney indicates that no amount has been paid in respect of the judgment (Annexure “A”…

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Details
AGLC
McEntee v Khoury [2006] FMCA 696
Case
[2006] FMCA 696
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Federal Court of Australia, the matter of McEntee v Khoury was heard, involving the bankruptcy of George Khoury and the appointment of a Trustee to manage his estate. The applicant, Scott Darren Pascoe, sought to be appointed as the Trustee of Khoury's property under section 50 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth). The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the applicant had satisfied the criteria for appointment as Trustee and whether the proposed terms of control over the estate were appropriate. The Court was also required to determine the duration for which the Trustee's control would be effective and whether the usual procedural requirements for service of notices should be waived.

The Court considered the application in light of the relevant statutory provisions and judicial precedents. It found that the applicant had met the necessary requirements for appointment, including demonstrating suitability and independence. The Court also examined the proposed terms of control, concluding that the specified duration until 30 June 2006 was reasonable. Additionally, the Court accepted that dispensing with the usual requirement for service of the Notice of Motion was appropriate in the circumstances presented. The Court noted that the costs of the application were to be reserved for further consideration.

As a result of the Court's decision, Scott Darren Pascoe was appointed as the Trustee of George Khoury's property, with his control over the estate ceasing on 30 June 2006, unless extended by a further order of the Court. The Court also dispensed with the requirement for service of the Notice of Motion on the debtor and reserved costs for later determination.

Orders

Orders of the court

1.

Scott Darren Pascoe be appointed Trustee of the property of George Khoury pursuant to s.50 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).

2.

The Trustee’s control of the estate of the debtor is to cease upon

30 June 2006 unless extended by order of this court upon application served personally upon the debtor not less than two business days prior thereto.

3.

Service of the Notice of Motion today be dispensed with.

4.

Costs are reserved.

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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