The Privy Council Ashley Dawson-Damer v Grampian Trust Company Ltd relates to an application to set aside appointments of trust assets that have the effect of transferring 98% of the trust assets to trusts whose class of discretionary beneficiaries do not include Ashley Dawson-Damer (Ashley). The basis for the application was the proposition that thee … Continue reading
Refrigerant Recovery NZ Limited v the Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants relates to a Beddoe order application. The substantive claim challenges the validity of a trust restructure and decisions made by the former trustee’s directors to implement the restructure. The restructure was brought about to address reforms to the product stewardship schemes (one … Continue reading
In New Zealand Beddoe applications are governed in the first instance by the High Court Rules, which do not extend to prospective costs orders by beneficiaries. Representation of VG Trustee Limited re the B Trust (Re the B Trust) considers whether beneficiaries should have their costs met on account of a successful Beddoe application brought … Continue reading
Re Darlow (in the Estate of Janette Diana Moleta) relates to an originating application for directions pursuant to s 133 of the Trusts Act 2019. The applicant Mr Darlow is the executor of the estate of Janette Moleta (the Estate). He seeks a direction that “… following the conclusion of an appropriate advertising campaign, he … Continue reading
The background to FFP Trustee (NZ) Limited v Peng is complicated. There are two applications before the courts, on relating to a restructuring proposal and the other relating to forfeiture of certain trust assets and directions regarding service. By way of background: TFFP sought leave to commence the current application by way of originating application. … Continue reading
The background to Turvey v Vance relates to diametrically opposed intra-family division with respect to the FB Turvey Family Trust and the P Turvey Family Trust (the Trusts). The Trusts were mirror trusts and as such the settlor of each of the trusts was not able to benefit from the trust that person settled. In … Continue reading
Singh v Attorney General is an application under part 5 of the Trusts Act 2019 and pursuant to the High Court rules to defend the applicants’ removal as trustees of the Sikh Sangat NZ Trust (the Trust) and for a Beddoe Order. The applicants separately seek the removal of the Trust’s founding trustee and an … Continue reading
By way of background in Vincent Family Corporate Trust Limited (as trustee of the ET and P Vincent Trusts) as noted by Van Bohemen J (above and below): In Vincent Family Corporate Trustee the parties were urged to find resolution. When this was not possible the court was required to determine matters. Helpfully, Van Bohemen … Continue reading
Being a trustee is increasingly more skittles than beer. “Beddoe orders” are an avenue for trustees to pursue or defend proceedings without facing personal liability. McCallum v McCallum concerns an appeal against partial Beddoe orders. At the opening of his novel Anna Karenina, the Russian novelist Tolstoy writes “All Happy families resemble one another, but … Continue reading
Trustees looking for certainty regarding costs will commonly turn their minds to a Beddoe application. However, where costs are a live issue and the grounds for a Beddoe order may not be made out, an alternative course of action is to seek a prospective costs order. While this may appear largely the sole dominion of … Continue reading