WALTON & ESPOSITO

In *Walton & Esposito*, Benjamin J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the husband for a decree of nullity. The precise nature of the dispute leading to this application is not detailed in the provided text, but it concerned the validity of a marriage.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the husband was entitled to a decree of nullity. This required the court to determine the legal grounds upon which such a decree could be granted and whether those grounds were established on the facts before it.

Benjamin J dismissed the husband's application for a decree of nullity. While the reasons for this dismissal are not elaborated upon in the provided extract, the outcome indicates that the court found no sufficient legal basis to invalidate the marriage. The court made no order as to costs and certified that it was reasonable to engage counsel to attend the proceedings.