STOKES v INSIGHT LEGAL TRUSTEE COMPANY LTD [2014] NZHC 543

STOKES v INSIGHT LEGAL TRUSTEE COMPANY LTD [2014] NZHC 543

The plaintiffs failed to prove that co-trustee Mrs Carr consented to the Bucklands property being acquired for the R M Colebrook Family Trust; absent that assent the right of indemnity from trust assets did not arise and the vendors could not be subrogated to any such right, warranting dismissal of the claim.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
(2014) 15 NZCPR 64
Parties
Plaintiffs: Bryan James Stokes; Alexandra Mary Stokes; Owen Neil Williams as trustees of the Stokes Family Trust; First Defendants: Insight Legal Trustee Company Limited; Graham Keith Heenan as trustees of the R M Colebrook Family Trust; Second Defendant: Elaine Margaret Colebrook
Court
High Court
Jurisdiction
New Zealand
Judgment Date
21 March 2014
Procedural Posture
Civil Trust Indemnity Claim / Trial Judgment After Remittal From Court of Appeal
Outcome
Plaintiffs claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Trustee Indemnity, Lien, Subrogation, Co Trustee Consent, Conveyancing, Mitigation of Loss
Trusts Property Law Equity Contract Trustee Indemnity Lien Subrogation Co Trustee Consent +2 more

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Parties

Bryan James Stokes; Alexandra Mary Stokes; Owen Neil Williams as trustees of the Stokes Family Trust

Plaintiffs

Insight Legal Trustee Company Limited; Graham Keith Heenan as trustees of the R M Colebrook Family Trust

First Defendants

Elaine Margaret Colebrook

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Trust Indemnity Claim / Trial Judgment After Remittal From Court of Appeal

  1. 1 Whether co-trustee consent (Mrs Carr) was given to acquisition of the Bucklands property for the R M Colebrook Family Trust
  2. 2 Whether Mrs Colebrook incurred liability in her capacity as trustee so as to attract a right of indemnity from trust assets
  3. 3 Whether any entitlement to indemnity was lost because the liability was incurred improperly

Ratio Decidendi

The plaintiffs failed to prove that co-trustee Mrs Carr consented to the Bucklands property being acquired for the R M Colebrook Family Trust; absent that assent the right of indemnity from trust assets did not arise and the vendors could not be subrogated to any such right, warranting dismissal of the claim.

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs claim dismissed

Orders

  • Plaintiffs claim dismissed
  • Defendants awarded costs on a 2B basis plus disbursements