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:

1    Personal 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