Sanil and Lennon

This matter concerned a dispute between Mr Sanil and Ms Lennon, heard in the District Court of New South Wales by McClelland DCJ. The central issue was the nature of the parties' relationship and the period it subsisted.

The court was required to determine whether Mr Sanil and Ms Lennon were in a de facto relationship and, if so, the specific dates of that relationship. This determination was crucial for the subsequent orders to be made.

McClelland DCJ applied the legal principle that courts generally presume individuals act lawfully and do not engage in fraudulent or criminal conduct, citing *Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd*. The judge found it improbable that Ms Lennon provided false or misleading information on her incoming passenger card. However, the court also considered inconsistencies in Ms Lennon's evidence regarding her place of residence and marital status, as revealed in a workers compensation interview and reports from a vocational psychologist and a medical practitioner. Despite these inconsistencies, the court ultimately declared that the parties were in a de facto relationship from 13 October 2010 until 15 August 2012.