McCallum v McCallum

Case [2016] NZHC 2929


IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND REGISTRY

CIV-2016-404-2970 [2016] NZHC 2929

IN THE MATTER

of an application by WILLIAM FRASER

McCALLUM as settlor of the W F McCallum Trust

BETWEEN

WILLIAM FRASER MCCALLUM First Plaintiff

WILLIAM FRASER MCCALLUM and CARRICK ROBERT ZACHARY MCCALLUM and CALLUM FRASER MCCALLUM as trustees of the W F McCallum Trust

Second Plaintiffs

AND

WILLIAM FRASER MCCALLUM JUNIOR

Defendant

Hearing: 5 December 2016

Appearances:

K G Davenport QC for the Plaintiffs
No appearance by or for the Defendant

Judgment:

5 December 2016

ORAL JUDGMENT OF WOODHOUSE J

Solicitors / Counsel:

Ms K Davenport QC, Barrister, Auckland

Mr A van Schalkwyk (plaintiffs’ instructing solicitor), ASCO Legal, Solicitors, Auckland

MCCALLUM v MCCALLUM [2016] NZHC 2929 [5 December 2016]

[1]        The plaintiffs seek three orders.

[2]        Two orders are to remove the defendant as a trustee and for the title to land owned by the trust to be vested in the remaining trustees.  I am satisfied that both of those orders are properly made.  Accordingly, there are orders in terms of paragraphs

1 and 3 of the draft order.

[3]        The plaintiffs also seek alternative orders relating to a question whether the trust deed provides power to the settlor to remove trustees.  Having been referred to relevant provisions by Ms Davenport QC, I agree that the position is not entirely clear. A determination on that issue is reserved.

[4]        There is a fourth application for costs.  This is that the costs of all parties be met from the trust.  I am satisfied that that is an appropriate order to make at this stage.

[5]        Accordingly, there are orders as noted at [2] and [4].   My reasons for making those orders will follow together with my determination on the question of

interpretation.

Woodhouse J

Details
AGLC
McCallum v McCallum [2016] NZHC 2929
Case
[2016] NZHC 2929
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the High Court of New Zealand, Auckland Registry, the case of McCallum v McCallum involved a dispute concerning the W F McCallum Trust. The first and second plaintiffs, William Fraser McCallum and the trustees of the W F McCallum Trust, sought to remove the defendant, William Fraser McCallum Junior, as a trustee of the trust. Additionally, they sought for the title to land owned by the trust to be vested in the remaining trustees. The plaintiffs also sought alternative orders regarding the removal of trustees and a determination of whether the trust deed provided the settlor with the power to remove trustees. The defendant did not appear in court, and the case was heard on 5 December 2016.

The legal issues before the court were whether the orders sought by the plaintiffs were appropriate and whether the trust deed provided the settlor with the power to remove trustees. The court had to consider the provisions of the trust deed and relevant case law in determining the outcome of the case. The court also had to consider the issue of costs and whether they should be met from the trust.

The court found that the orders sought by the plaintiffs were appropriate and that the title to the land owned by the trust should be vested in the remaining trustees. The court was not entirely clear on the issue of whether the trust deed provided the settlor with the power to remove trustees, and a determination on that issue was reserved. The court also found that it was appropriate for the costs of all parties to be met from the trust. The court provided reasons for its decision and will provide further reasons for its determination on the question of interpretation.

The final orders of the court were that William Fraser McCallum Junior be removed as a trustee of the W F McCallum Trust, the title to the land owned by the trust be vested in the remaining trustees, and the costs of all parties be met from the trust. The court reserved its determination on the question of whether the trust deed provided the settlor with the power to remove trustees.

Orders

Orders of the court

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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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