Pattison (Trustee), in the matter of Abdulrahman (Bankrupt)

Case

[2011] FCA 826

30 June 2011


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Pattison (Trustee), in the matter of Abdulrahman (Bankrupt)
[2011] FCA 826

Citation: Pattison (Trustee), in the matter of Abdulrahman (Bankrupt) [2011] FCA 826
Parties: PAUL ANTHONY PATTISON (AS TRUSTEE OF THE BANKRUPT ESTATES OF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN AND OTHERS (AS PER ANNEXURE “A”))
File number: VID 644 of 2011
Judge: NORTH J
Date of judgment: 30 June 2011
Date of hearing: 30 June 2011
Place: Melbourne
Division: GENERAL DIVISION
Category: No Catchwords
Number of paragraphs: 8
Counsel for the Applicant: Mr P Fary
Solicitor for the Applicant: Saxbys Lawyers
Counsel for the Inspector General: Ms C Gobbo

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

VID 644 of 2011

IN THE MATTER OF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN AND OTHERS (AS PER ANNEXURE “A”)

PAUL ANTHONY PATTISON (AS TRUSTEE OF THE BANKRUPT ESTATES OF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN AND OTHERS (AS PER ANNEXURE “A”))
Applicant

JUDGE:

NORTH J

DATE OF ORDER:

30 JUNE 2011

WHERE MADE:

MELBOURNE

UPON THE APPLICANT BY HIS COUNSEL UNDERTAKING TO THE COURT:

Not to accept any appointment as a registered trustee under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) pending further order of the Court.

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1Personal service of the application and the supporting affidavit of the applicant sworn 17 June 2011 as required by r 8.02(2)(b) of the Federal Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2005 (Cth) on each of the bankrupts in each bankrupt estate listed in Annexure “A” to the application be dispensed with.

2.The applicant serve each of the bankrupts referred to in Annexure “A” to the application by ordinary mail addressed to the address last notified by each such bankrupt to the applicant with a copy of the affidavit of the applicant sworn 17 June 2011 together with a letter stating the orders sought in the application, the adjourned date of the hearing and that the bankrupt should attend the hearing if such bankrupt intends to oppose the application by close of business on 1 July 2011.

3.        The application be adjourned to 8 July 2011 at 10:15am.

Note:Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.
The text of entered orders can be located using Federal Law Search on the Court’s website.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

VID 644 of 2011

IN THE MATTER OF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN AND OTHERS (AS PER ANNEXURE “A”)

PAUL ANTHONY PATTISON (AS TRUSTEE OF THE BANKRUPT ESTATES OF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN AND OTHERS (AS PER ANNEXURE “A”))
Applicant

JUDGE:

NORTH J

DATE:

30 JUNE 2011

PLACE:

MELBOURNE

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. Before the Court is an application by the applicant, Mr Paul Anthony Pattison, under s 180 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) (the Act), for the Court to accept his resignation as a registered trustee from the office of trustee of over 200 bankrupt estates.  The basis of the application is that Mr Pattison no longer has the financial capacity to engage the resources which he regards as necessary to continue discharging his office as trustee. 

  2. One of the orders sought by Mr Pattison is that the Court dispense with the requirement under r 8.02(2)(b) of the Federal Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2005 (Cth) (the Rules). Rule 8.02 relevantly provides:

    (1)An application for acceptance of a trustee's resignation from the office of trustee of an estate, or release of a trustee from the trusteeship of an estate, must be accompanied by:

    (a)an affidavit stating the grounds in support of the application; and

    (b)if the application is for release of a trustee from the trusteeship of an estate:

    (i)a statement giving details of the realisation of the bankrupt's property and the distribution of the estate by the trustee; and

    (ii)a copy of the most recent account required under subsection 173(1) of the Bankruptcy Act.

    (2)       The application and supporting documents must be served on:

    (a)    the Official Receiver; and

    (b)        the bankrupt; and

    (c)       anyone else (including a creditor) as ordered by the Court.

  3. The application was made upon the understanding that the service envisaged by r 8.02(2)(b) requires personal service. The reason Mr Pattison seeks an order dispensing with service in accordance with r 8.02(2)(b) is that his resources are limited to such a degree that it would be onerous to require him to effect personal service on over 200 bankrupts.

  4. Rule 8.02(2)(b) discloses an intention that bankrupts receive notice of an application for resignation of a trustee.  It may be that the reason for this provision is to allow a bankrupt, whose estate has been partly administered, to engage provisions of the Act which allow for an examination of the course of the bankruptcy administration. 

  5. Ms Gobbo, who appeared on behalf of the Inspector General, pointed out that there are provisions in the Act which would allow bankrupts to exercise rights of complaint, even if orders under s 180 of the Act were made. In particular, Ms Gobbo pointed to ss 155H, 178 and 179 of the Act.

  6. There is force in Ms Gobbo’s submission. However, the construction of both s 178 and s 179 of the Act requires consideration.  Those sections allow for oversight by the Court of a trustee at the instance of a bankrupt or a creditor.  What is not clear is whether those sections can be engaged once a trustee has resigned.  Both sections are open to the interpretation that their reference to the trustee is a reference to the trustee then holding office.  This is not the only construction available, but as it is one which is open, it becomes important to ensure that bankrupts are informed about the course of any application for the registered trustee’s resignation.  Consequently, I am not disposed to dispense completely with the obligation to serve on the bankrupts, copies of the application and affidavit in support.

  7. The evidence provided in the affidavit of Mr Pattison sworn on 17 June 2011 concerning his limited resources to comply with the service requirement under r 8.02(2)(b) is incomplete. The evidence is stated in conclusionary terms and is not supported by any evidence establishing lack of capacity. Given the paucity of Mr Pattison’s evidence, the importance of keeping the bankrupts informed, and the requirement for service under r 8.02(2)(b), the appropriate course in the present case is to dispense with the requirement of r 8.02(2)(b) to some degree, whilst ensuring the bankrupts know of the application, the evidence in support of it, and the date of the hearing.

  8. Consequently, the Court will order that personal service required under r 8.02(2)(b) of the Rules is dispensed with, but will direct Mr Pattison to serve each of the bankrupts, by ordinary mail addressed to their last address notified to him, with a copy of the affidavit in support sworn by him on 17 June 2011, without annexure A, together with a letter stating the orders sought in the application, the adjourned date of the hearing of the application, and that the bankrupt should attend the hearing if they intend to oppose the application.

I certify that the preceding eight (8) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice North.

Associate:

Dated:       22 July 2011

ANNEXURE “A”

Bankruptcy No          Surname  Christian Name          Date of

Appointment

3742/05 ABDULRAHMAN Mohamed 18-Oct-05
2765/10/9 ACAR Nurcan 21-Jun-10
2061/08 AINALIS Leo 8-May-08
3107/10/1 ALDUCCI Liala 3-Sep-10
2539/08 ALVES Joao Maria 5-Jun-08
1865/08 ANGELATOS Sam 29-Apr-08
1393/08 ASTRINAKIS Tony 1-Apr-08
1604/04 ATHANASIOU John 20-May-04
583/02 BAKER Jacoba 21-Feb-02
1644/10/4 BAKER Layal 1-Apr-10
583/02 BAKER Steven 21-Feb-02
4823/07 BALAAM Warren John 30-Oct-07
867/8/5 BARBEAU MAURICE 26-Feb-08
2814/10/4 BARKER Clement Joseph 22-Jun-10
4625/1/7 BARNES Noel H 22-Nov-01
2682/04 BARR Neville 13-Aug-04
917/08 BATTEN Matthew 28-Feb-08
3781/03 BENALLACK Ian 6-Nov-03
4164/6/1 BENIC Ivan 12-Oct-06
1563/04 BENTLEY Malcolm John 18-May-04
2823/95 BERG Eric (deceased) 14-Nov-95
2823/95 BERG E & J 14-Nov-95
2823/95 BERG Jeanne Martin 14-Nov-95
1568/92 BERRY Wayne Desmond 28-May-92
3468/5/4 BEYER Nicole Anne 27-Sep-05
3326/08 BLASCHAK Andrew 23-Jul-08
3328/08 BLASCHAK Karen Elizabeth 23-Jul-08
328/05 BODRIAGAN Valery Bodriagan 3-Feb-05
1246/2007 BORTHWICK Ross 20-Mar-07
VIC462/6/9 BOUNYAVIENG Onchanh 2-Feb-06
4622/09 BRAIN Debbie 15-Sep-09
1228/2005 BRAIN Lloyd 12-Apr-05
3053/2008 BRITT Noel H 3-Jul-08
4803/09 BROMLEY Trent 24-Sep-09
3903/05 BROWN Annette Alice 3-Nov-05
2224/2010 BUCMAN Alexandar 31-Mar-11
1171/09 BUDDHIPALA Kumudu Kumar 24-Apr-09
3872/02 BUNTING Grantly Keith 7-Nov-02
1447/2006 BURGESS Anthony Charles 5-Apr-06
4415/10 BURR Gary 17-Aug-10
2429/2007 BURRIDGE Kerry Wayne 31-May-07
3613/077/1 BUTTIGIEG ADAM 19-Jan-11
518/2009 BUZZA Todd Patrick 3-Feb-09
1219/09/8 CAGEORGIS John 12-Mar-09
1136/05 CALLEIA Paul Anthony 7-Apr-05
769/6/6 CALLEJA David 23-Feb-06
4560/09/3 CAMM Peter Robert 11-Sep-09
5131/08/3 CARRUTHERS Fiona Joy 31-Oct-08
3352/04 CARUANA Andrew 30-Sep-04
4717/08 CIVOF Kosta 9-Oct-08
1478/08 CLARKE Kathleen 3-Apr-08
2139/08 COBANOGLU Mustafa 13-May-08
1850/09/9 COLLINS Janelle 14-Apr-09
445/03 COLUSIMO Justin 6-Feb-03
1829/04 CONDON Shannon 8-Jun-04
1240/05 CORTEZ John 14-Apr-05
1641/04 COSIC Marko 25-May-04
1583/08 COULTHARD Colin John 10-Apr-08
2497/06 COURTIDIS Justin Anthony 20-Jun-06
4718/08 COX Paul 9-Oct-08
2489/09 COXHILL David R 21-May-09
3345/5/1 CRANWELL Richard 20-Sep-05
4964/09/7 CRICHTON Kristoffer 27-Jul-10
2717/09 CROZIER John Lawrence Rex 24-Jun-09
2191/5 CUGIA Julita Noble 21-Jun-05
532/6/9 CUNNINGHAM David Allan 7-Feb-06
4198/07 CURTIS Darren R. 18-Sep-07
434/07 DAKAK Atilla 30-Jan-07
4525/06 DALLWITZ Hilton 2-Nov-06
2922/07 DALTON Rae 26-Jun-08
496/5/2 DARDAMANIS George 15-Feb-05
VIC422/6/9 DAVIES John Robert 31-Jan-06
422/6/9 DAVIES Maree Denise 31-Jan-06
5210/07 DAWES Christine Anne 22-Nov-07
2089/0/0 DE GONZA Rocco 19-Jun-00
1717/03 DEACON Bernard 13-May-03
1717/03 DEACON Scott Andrew 13-May-03
2206/6/3 DELOSA Con 30-May-06
2631/08 DIMANNO Giuseppe 5-Jun-08
3644/09 DINAKIS Paul 19-Jan-11
4258/09/1 DOKHT Vahid Faghir 7-Dec-09
428/05 DONEV Vase Victor 10-Feb-05
1164/06 D'ORTENZIO Bruno 24-Jun-06
3292/06 D'SOUZA Russell 17-Oct-06
2811/02 DUKANAC Alexander 15-Aug-02
4/10/2770 EDDEY Michael Anthony 21-Jun-10
3132/08/0 ELLEM Warran Ronald 8-Jul-08
3841/91 ENG William 17-Dec-91
2250/09/3 FALKINGHAM Dale Reginald 14-Aug-09
4865/08 FANTONE Daryl 16-Oct-08
3517/10/7 FARES Michael 12-Aug-10
3516/10/6 FARES John 12-Aug-10
1581/10/1 FAVA GODWIN 1-Apr-10
3248/2007 FERIGHETTO Antonio Isaac 24-Jul-07
882/9/5 FISTROVIC Zoran Richard 19-Apr-10
3335/02 FLEURY John Fredrick 24-Sep-02
1348/6/5 GALLO Frank 30-Mar-06
6037/08 GANDER Colleen Anne 23-Dec-08
1350/04 GARDAM Michael Gavin 3-May-04
1220/04 GEDGE Norman L 20-Apr-04
1326/08 GIBSON Dallas 27-Mar-08
3099/10/5 GIGGINS Erica Janelle 30-Jun-10
1508/10/2 GOSLING Garry Lloyd 17-Jun-10
575/09 GRACE William 5-Feb-09
1113/10/3 GRIFFIN Kathleen Jayne 9-Mar-10
2237/08/9 GRIMM Bradley John 31-Oct-08
6299/09/8 GUST Christina 22-Dec-09
371/08/3 GUST Paul Anthony 24-Nov-08
3914/08/2 HALEY Mark Christopher 26-Aug-08
716/07 HAMILTON Malcolm Alan 15-Feb-07
440/10 HARROD Mark Adrian 30-Dec-10
2198/09 HARDWICK Andrew 19-Jan-11
2463/09 HARDWICK Helen 19-Jan-11
1500/09 HARTLEY Francis Velia 26-Mar-09
2716/09 HENDRA John Alan 24-Jun-09
2140/08 HOLDING Anthony Laurence 13-May-08
2370/09/3 HOLMAN Edyth Mary 25-Jun-09
2527/09/0 HOLMAN William James 25-Jun-09
1586/02 HORTIN Damien Christopher 9-May-02
1960/08 IGOE Eric 1-May-08
3764/07 IJUIN Toshi 23-Aug-07
685/07 ILHAN Cengiz 13-Feb-07
4965/07 IOANNOU Yiannakis (John) 5-Nov-07
1029 / 201 JACKSON Gordon James
2766/10/0 JOSEVSKI Zoranco 21-Jun-10
4047/00 KALLONAS Christopher George 5-Dec-00
1414/2009 KAMBOURIS Theo 23-Mar-09
853/09/2 KAPURANOVSKI Anthony 19-Feb-09
685/07 KARITIANOS Dill 13-Feb-07
2574/2007 KATUNOV Alex 12-Jun-07
496/2009 KELLY Warren 3-Feb-09
1274/08 KHEDER Mounzer 20-Mar-08
4317/04 KIELY Stephen John 21-Dec-04
QLD3591/09 KING John Norman 8-Jul-09
QLD3591/09 KING Brioney Anne 8-Jul-09
3510/05 KIRBY Andrew Phillip 29-Sep-05
2582/08 KIRKHAM David Robert 10-Jun-08
1075/10/5 KIRKHAM John 9-Mar-10
596/11 KIRKHAM Margaret Cheryl 15-Feb-11
2276/08 KONTOGIANNIS Nikolos 22-May-08
4540/07 KOSTADINOSKI Lupco Alex 31-Oct-07
803/08 KUMAR Shalend 21-Feb-08
2282/08 KYRIACOU Andrea 22-May-08
3301/5/7 LAITY Ian 15-Sep-05
1566/09/5 LANE Garry 31-Mar-09
3003/09/2 LANGTON Bryan 18-Jun-09
3145/08/3 LAWRENCE Michael W 8-Jul-08
2102/06 LEECH Ian David 2-Nov-07
3349/00 LEMPRIERE Thomas Charles 10-Apr-01
805/01 LEMPRIERE Pauline Veronica 8-May-01
3066/10/0 LESLIE William Joseph Nevill 9-Jul-10
3565/09/4 LI Abbie 21-Jul-09
3233/03 LINTON Kevin Douglas 25-Sep-03
3594/05/0 LOKVANCIC Olga 6-Oct-05
563/04 LOSIC Joe 24-Feb-04
259/6/6 LOWTHER Janice 19-Jan-06
4859/07 MACH Chieu Minh 30-Oct-07
349/2011 MACCIOCCA Marco Paolo 1-Feb-11
4449/08 MADDEN Ashley James 23-Sep-08
3834/08/2 MAHER Dennis 15-Aug-08
3650/05/6 MAHONEY Lee Michelle 11-Oct-05
3513/09/2 MALTER Richard Lawrence 16-Jul-09
4383/01 MANI Cemal 1-Nov-01
1290/02 MARCHETTI Paul Stuart 17-Jun-02
1738/02 MARCHETTI Stuart Paul 21-May-02
393 10/3 MARIOTIS Jim 28-Jan-10
2709/06/6 MARKOVSKI Tony 6-Jul-06
4241/07 MAROM LEE 20-Sep-07
3298/10/8 MARQUARDT Lee 22-Jul-10
3348/5/4 MASTROIANNI Mario 20-Sep-05
2433/05 MATTHEWS Kelly 12-Jul-05
2559/02 McFARLANE William Scott 25-Jul-02
828/03 McGUSHIN Michael 6-Mar-03
3455/5/1 MCKINNON Donald Neil 26-Aug-05
3453/5/9 MCKINNON Jeanette Beverly Dawn 26-Aug-05
5415/07 MCMILLAN Jodi Anne 4-Dec-07
3408/10/8 MERRILL James 6-Jul-10
2053/08 MICHAELS John 8-May-08
444/08 MILLICHIP Beverley Lee 31-Jan-08
1529/08 MIRCEVSKI Alex 8-Apr-08
1792/08 MOORBY Alex William 22-Apr-08
2135/07 MUCKENTHALER Janos Joseph 15-May-07
3653/08 MUELLER Joanne 12-Aug-08
5415/07 NICHOLLS Gregory Alan 4-Dec-07
5415/07 NICHOLLS & MCMILLAN  J A 4-Dec-07
5179/07 NOVAK Michael 20-Nov-07
1221/09 O'BRIEN Carl Goerge 12-Mar-09
1081/10/1 OLIPHANT William John Paul 9-Mar-10
3449/10/9 OLIVER Kathlyn M 3-Aug-10
1961/10/5 OLSEN Janet 24-Jun-10
445/03 OULIARIS Christopher 6-Feb-03
4868/07 OWENS Georgina Mariel 1-Nov-07
1656/09/5 PADAYACHEE Shantal 2-Apr-09
317/05/3 PAPIGIOTIS Chris 1-Feb-05
NSW6032/09 PARBERY Steve 27-Jul-09
2362/09/1 PASCAL Craig 14-May-09
1395/08 PATAKI Frank 1-Apr-08
3749/05/5 PATON Matthew David 18-Oct-05
1507/09 PATTERSON Douglas 26-Mar-09
3943/06 PAUL Robert 28-Sep-06
3943/06 PAUL Susan Theresa 28-Sep-06
4340/07 PAULO Perenise Tai Vai 27-Sep-07
1850/09/9 PEIRPOINT Darryl 14-Apr-09
1458/2011 PENNICOTT Gabrial 5-Apr-11
5308/09/7 PHILIPPOUSSIS Nicholas Salvatore 16-Dec-09
2055/09/4 PRICE Graham Kenlock 28-Apr-09
2767/10/1 PSATOPOLOUS EFTHIMIOS 21-Jun-10
3282/09/1 RAEK Nezar 2-Jul-09
2396/05 RAMOS Rodrigo Javier 7-Jul-05
1321/08 RHOOK Anthony 27-Mar-08
2837/2007 ROLANDO Anthony 28-Jun-07
4365/09/4 ROSE Michael 1-Sep-09
3004/03 ROSS-CROSSLEY Gareth Roy 4-Sep-03
573/09 RULE Tracey Leanne 5-Feb-09
1265/10/5 SALUNI SAMIU 18-Mar-10
3024/09/3 SAMI Roshni 18-Jun-09
3599/09 SAMI Bob 23-Jul-09
2456/05 SAWTELL Craig John 14-Jul-05
1969/09/8 SER Henry 21-Apr-09
2504/03 SHORT Geoffrey 22-Jul-03
523/2009/2 SIME Christopher James 3-Feb-09
5209/10 SIMMONS Nova 9-Dec-10
1923/03 SINCLAIR Kenneth John 29-May-03
1398/08 SINGH Virendra 1-Apr-08
5340/07 SKEOCH Kerry Lee 29-Nov-07
5340/07 SKEOCH Ian Alan 29-Nov-07
1057/09/6 SLOMCZEWSKI Mark 3-Mar-09
945/07 SNOWDEN Stephen George 28-Feb-07
1392/08 SOURANI Diari 1-Apr-08
5157/08 SPAIN Lee Adrian 3-Nov-08
1985/01 SPINA Moreno 10-May-01
3761/07 STEPHANOU Manny 23-Aug-07
4446/07 STEPHENS Kenneth Lyle 4-Oct-07
3534/03 STEVENS Brenda Florence 16-Oct-03
4322/5/8 STOLK Jason Paul 1-Dec-05
878/05 STORY Margaret Mary 17-Mar-05
3447/08 STRANGIO Bruno 28-Jul-08
2293/5/9 STUBER John 30-Jun-05
1020/96 SUTHERLAND Wilma Jean 16-Apr-96
2283/08 SUMMERS Fiona Gaye 22-May-08
5553/2008 TABAKOVIC Ivan 24-Nov-08
4883/09/2 TAIKATO Vern 29-Sep-09
2768/04 TATNELL Graham Edward 19-Aug-04
4996/09 TAUTATAINA Taliauli 6-Oct-09
4887/06 TAYLOR Christine Antoinette 23-Nov-06
4014/10 TAYLOR Eileen 14-Sep-10
4849/08 TETRADIS George 14-Oct-08
4448/07 THOMSON Rodney David 4-Oct-07
1771/6/8 TILLEY Justin 2-May-06
3706/02/9 TO Phong 15-Oct-02
3073/2007 TRIBE Keith John 10-Jul-07
2597/10/7 TRIGGS Kylie Maria 3-Jun-10
3559/09/8 TSONIS Steve 21-Jul-09
2242/04 UGUZ Aydin 8-Jul-04
4127/07 VAN ALPHEN Didi, Jennifer 13-Sep-07
2307/99 VAUGHAN Annemarie 21-Jul-99
779/6/6 VENTRESCA Anthony Joseph 23-Feb-06
1663/07 VIOLA Tony Orazio 12-Apr-07
593/05 VON DIEBITSCH Peter 22-Feb-05
984/08 VONA Giovanni 4-Mar-08
1982/09/5 WADE Raymond Joseph 29-Jul-09
1984/09/7 WADE Karolee Mary 29-Jul-09
2365/4 WALKER John 20-Jul-04
4156/06 WATSON Lawrence Robert Bruce 12-Oct-06
1478/08 WEIR Adam Patrick 3-Apr-08
3777/6/4 WHITBY Judith Wendy 19-Sep-06
2543/09/6 WHITELAW Sherryl Ann 26-May-09
4502/07 WILLIAMS Allan 9-Oct-07
3163/10/3 WOWK Paul 15-Jul-10
1159/10/3 WRIGHT Elle Victoria 13-Jul-10
2978/05/4 YU Qun Xiong (Kenny) 17-Aug-05
3512/09 YUDELMAN Alan 16-Jul-09
2811/05/7 ZDELAR Stjepan Matija 11-Aug-05
Actions
Download as PDF Download as Word Document


Cases Citing This Decision

0

Cases Cited

0

Statutory Material Cited

0