19 Dec 2022
WASHIKITA v SMITH [2022] NZHC 3524
- Citation
- [2022] NZHC 3524
- Court
- High Court
Summary judgment granted for plaintiff. Defendant's asserted right of first refusal was not proved and, in any event, was too uncertain and not in writing so unenforceable; invoices and claimed reimbursement lacked credibility and contemporaneous support; defendant did not have a reasonable expectation of an equitable interest to invoke a constructive trust; part performance did not apply; factual disputes were either spurious or insufficient to defeat summary judgment; balance of convenience favoured plaintiff given lengthy unpaid occupation and owners' circumstances.