When being asked to set aside a statutory demand, and exercising the statutory discretion, the real question is whether the applicant can show ‘a substantial reason comparable to the sort of reason one sees in paras (a), (b) and (c) of r 6.5(4), why the demand ought to be set aside.’Peter Gibson LJ said: ‘The … Continue reading Budge v AH Budge (Contractors) Ltd: CA 1997
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
The parties contracted for the sale and purchase of land with vacant possession. It was subject to a lease which the seller said had been surrendered, and it refused to accept any requisitions of objections. After exchange it appeared that the tenant was bankrupt, and the surrender ineffective in law. Upon discovery of this the … Continue reading Area Estates Ltd v Weir: CA 20 Jul 2010
Proudman J [2016] EWHC 1536 (Ch) Bailii Insolvency Act 1986 284 England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 18 January 2022; Ref: scu.566241
The claimant was trustee in bankruptcy but the court failed to register the bankruptcy petition at the Land Registry as a pending action. The bankrupt was therefore able to sell her land, and the trustee did not recover the proceeds. The trustee sought to recover from the defendant who was responsible for the court service. … Continue reading Poulton v Ministry of Justice: CA 22 Apr 2010
The trustee sought to have set aside as an unlawful preference, the payment of 75% of the proceeds of sale of the former matrimonial home to the bankrupt’s wife, saying that the payment had been made after the presentation of the petition. The parties had previously compromised a claim for ancillary relief in the divorce … Continue reading Warwick (Formerly Yarwood) v Trustee In Bankruptcy of Clive Graham Yarwood: ChD 13 Sep 2010
A statutory demand as served showed an incorrectly calculated sum owed and was in the wrong form. Held: The application to set the demand aside was refused. A statutory demand should not be set aside for a mere technicality.Lord Justice Nicholls said: ‘The question arising on this appeal concerns the exercise by the court of … Continue reading In re a Debtor (No 1 of 1987), ex parte the Royal Bank of Scotland: CA 1989
Transfer of Undertakings The appeal is one in which no party other than the Appellant was represented. That representative, although experienced in the employment law field, is not a qualified lawyer. No authority was cited to the EAT, and the decision is one which should be treated with care. However the EAT held that the … Continue reading Noble v Box and Others (Transfer of Undertakings): EAT 29 Mar 2021
The claimant sought judicial review of the respondent’s decision that he was liable, after his discharge from bankruptcy, to suffer deductions from his benefits of sums to repay an overpayment of benefit incurred before his bankruptcy. Held: The respondent’s claim under section 71(1) was a bankruptcy debt, and as such was subject to release on … Continue reading Balding, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 3 Apr 2007
Application for a Norwich Pharmacal order against a financial institution or a financial services provider known, for the purpose of these proceedings as ‘MM’, relating to a claim that the applicant, known as ‘AA’, has against her former husband, known as ‘XY’. Judges: Mr Justice Sweeting Citations: [2022] EWHC 2627 (KB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency … Continue reading AA v JJ: KBD 29 Jul 2022
The test for the exercise of the discretion to set aside a statutory demand is whether there are circumstances which would make it unjust for the statutory demand to give rise to insolvency consequences in the particular case. Judges: HHJ Weeks QC Citations: [2008] 1 BCLC 314, [2005] EWHC 3519 Statutes: Insolvency Rules 1986 6.5(4)(a) … Continue reading Chan v Appasamy: 2008
A judgment creditor, applied for an order requiring Mr Brewster, his judgment debtor, to elect to draw down a lump sum from his pension in order to enable the judgment creditor to obtain a third party debt order against the pension trustees. Held: Mr Moss granted an injunction under section 37(1) of the 1981 Act … Continue reading Blight and Others v Brewster: ChD 9 Feb 2012
The court examined the effect of section 423 on sale and leaseback transactions. Judges: Purle QC J Citations: [2010] EWHC 6 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 423 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 12 October 2022; Ref: scu.392843
The Secretary of State sought a disqualification order. The director argued that one shoul not be made in the absence of some breach of legal duty, some dishonesty should be shown. Held: The answer was a mixture of fact and law. A breach of duty alone was neither necessary nor sufficient. Unfitness by reason of … Continue reading The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Goldberg, Mcavoy: ChD 26 Nov 2003
Solicitor firms had been made bankrupt leaving a shortfall after thefts from client accounts of over 12 million pounds. The thief had diappeared, and the other partners were now discharged form bankruptcy. The Law Society accepted that it could not proceed to claim against the discharged bankrupts, but now sought recovery from their insurers. Held: … Continue reading Law Society of England and Wales and others v Shah and others: ChD 30 Nov 2007
The claimants appealed against bankruptcy orders made against assessed liability to income tax and penalties. As solicitors, their practice had suffered intervention, but they argued that their assets comfortably exceeded their liabilities and that they should have been given more time to pay. Held: They said that as a result of the intervention within their … Continue reading Ross and Holmes v HM Revenue and Customs: ChD 12 Jan 2010
The subject of the bankruptcy proceedings asked that the petition be heard in private so as not to prejudice pending criminal proceedings in a foreign jurisdiction. Held: The bankrupt would be required to answer questions which might be self incriminating. The court had power to hear the matter in private, and would do so, but … Continue reading In re Rottmann (a Bankrupt): ChD 20 May 2008
The court discussed the the receipt and acceptance of a letter of request: ‘The scheme of subsection (5) appears to me to be this. The first step is to identify the matters specified in the request. Secondly, the domestic court should ask itself what would be the relevant insolvency law applicable by the domestic court … Continue reading Re Dallhold Estates (UK) Pty Ltd: ChD 1992
The debtor had agreed to buy a company from the petitioner, the price to be payable in instalments by means of post-dated cheques. The debtor alleged misrepresentation and stopped one of the cheques. The petitioner served a statutory demand based on the dishonoured cheque. The district judge dismissed the debtor’s application to set aside the … Continue reading Hofer v Strawson: ChD 31 Mar 1999
The giving false or misleading information to creditors at the meeting is ‘a Material Irregularity’ sufficient to have the result of the meeting set aside. Citations: Times 07-Aug-1995, Ind Summary 21-Aug-1995, Ind Summary 11-Sep-1995 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 262(4) 257 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 24 July 2022; Ref: scu.81668
Administrators took on new employees during the period of administration, but when it came to an end, they were unable to pay the PAYE and NIC for the employees. Held: The statute gave special priority to debts incurred under new contracts. The liability for PAYE fell under that category, and so did liability for NIC, … Continue reading In Re FJL Realisations Ltd: ChD 2 Mar 2000
On the divorce, the husband was ordered to transfer his share in the house to the wife. On his bankruptcy shortly after, the order was confirmed. After the wife sold the property at a profit, the trustee in bankruptcy applied to set the transfer aside as a transaction at an undervalue. Held: The starting point … Continue reading Haines v Hill and Another: CA 5 Dec 2007
The claimant appealed refusal to set aside a statutory demand made by the respondent society. The proposed defence had been already been dismissed by the courts. Held: Such a consideration was very relevant, but not necessarily determinative. The debtor was obliged to proceed quickly, and could not delay his application. He had to demonstrate a … Continue reading Thomas-Everard and Others v Society of Lloyd’s: ChD 18 Jul 2003
Deliberate concealment of arrangements for sale of assets at an undervalue to associate justified revocation of a voluntary arrangement, but the court must look at the heinousness of the irregularity before deciding as to future conduct of arrangements. Citations: Times 29-Dec-1998 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 262(4)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 17 June 2022; … Continue reading Inland Revenue Commissioners v Duce and Another: ChD 29 Dec 1998
The Commissioners appealed against a refusal of their application for a revocation of the defendant’s voluntary arrangement in that it had failed to comply with section 4. They complained that the arrangement was unfair to them. It had been agreed to pay football creditors in full at the expense of others, in order to avoid … Continue reading Commissioners of Inland Revenue v The Wimbledon Football Club Limited, Ellis, Earp: CA 28 May 2004
The expression ‘cross-demand’ in rule 6.5(4)(a) did not imply any kind of procedural or juridical relationship to the debt subject to the statutory demand. All it meant was that the demand was one that went the other way, i.e. was a demand by the debtor on the creditor. The cross-claim must still be one which … Continue reading Popely v Popely: CA 30 Apr 2004
When a defendant was accused of an offence under the section, and wished to raise a defence under sub-section 4, the duty of proof placed on him by the sub-section amounted to a duty to bring sufficient evidence to raise the defence, and the section did not transfer the burden from the prosecution. Held: To … Continue reading Regina v Clive Louden Carass: CACD 19 Dec 2001
The company sold its business to the respondent for one pound, but the respondent agreed to sublease computer equipment for an amount equivalent to the value of the company. The company defaulted, and the computer equipment was recovered. The respondent refused to pay under the sub-lease. The trustee of the company in liquidation sought to … Continue reading Phillips (Liquidator of A J Bekhor and Co ) and Another v Brewin Dolphin Bell Lawrie: HL 18 Jan 2001
A modification to an Individual Voluntary Arrangement made under a clause of the arrangement allowing variations and which variations could have been included in the original deed was valid. Citations: Times 03-Dec-1998 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 263 (4) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.81674
Administrators took on new employees during the period of administration, but when it came to an end, they were unable to pay the PAYE and NIC for the employees. Held: The statute gave special priority to debts incurred under new contracts. The liability for PAYE fell under that category, and so did liability for NIC, … Continue reading In Re FJL Realisations Ltd: CA 2 Aug 2000
First Division, Inner House, Court of Session – allegation of sale at an undervalue. The liquidator appealed a finding that as a speedy sale was required the sale price was proper. Held: The reclaiming notice was allowed. The sale of the company’s main place of business would not lead to a recovery. A person, once … Continue reading Liquidators of Grampian Maclennan’s Distribution Services Ltd Reclaiming Motion By, v Carnbroe Estates Ltd: SCS 23 Jan 2018
‘This appeal concerns the Scots law of gratuitous alienations on insolvency. It raises three principal questions. First, there is a question as to the interpretation of the term ‘adequate consideration’ in section 242(4)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986. Secondly, there is the question whether the Inner House was entitled to interfere with the Lord Ordinary’s … Continue reading MacDonald and Another v Carnbroe Estates Ltd: SC 4 Dec 2019
(Outer House) Allegation of sale at an undervalue – Carnbroe had established that the sale of the Property was made for adequate consideration. Lord Woolman recorded the submission which counsel made on behalf of Carnbroe that Grampian was fighting for its survival and that Mr Quinn had to make a quick decision. He continued: ‘While … Continue reading Macdonald and Others v Carnbroe Estates Ltd: SCS 18 Jan 2017
Lord Cullen spoke of the meaning of ‘adequate consideration’ in section 242 of the 1986 Act: ‘In considering whether alienation was made for ‘adequate consideration’, I do not take the view that it is necessary for the defender to establish that the consideration for the alienation was the best which could have been obtained in … Continue reading Lafferty Construction Ltd v McCombe: SCS 1994
The Official Receiver could not use the powers given to him for the purposes of his insolvency duties to require production of documents form solicitors and accountants, to satisfy duties placed on him by the Secretary of State for the purpose of company director disqualification proceedings. The secretary of state could not ask the Official … Continue reading In re Pantmaenog Timber Co Ltd: CA 25 Jul 2001
Claims under section 212(3) for alleged misfeasance or breach of duties against the Companies’ former liquidators in their respective members voluntary liquidations Judges: Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Burton Citations: [2022] EWHC 632 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 212(4) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 12 April 2022; Ref: scu.674645
The forfeiture of a bankrupt’s lease is not an exercise of a security disallowing landlord from proving in the bankruptcy. the right of physical re-entry is neither a ‘security’ nor a ‘remedy’ within the meaning of those provisions, nor does it constitute ‘other proceedings’ or the execution of ‘other legal process’. The present law is … Continue reading Razzaq v Pala: QBD 6 Jun 1997
ICC Judge Barber [2021] EWHC 2965 (Ch) Bailii Insolvency Act 1986 205(4) England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 04 December 2021; Ref: scu.669818
The agency challenged the inclusion in an individual voluntary arrangement of the father’s arrears of child support. The creditors meeting had approved a full and final settlement. 94% of the debts were arrears of child support. The Commission said that such arrears were not subject to the arrangement, and the arrangement was unfair to it. … Continue reading Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission v Beesley and Another: ChD 11 Mar 2010
The landlord had taken a guarantee of the lease from the tenant when granting a licence to assign to the new tenant. That new tenant had become insolvent and the liquidator had disclaimed the lease. The court considered the position under Hindcastle after the 1995 Act. Held: The guaranteer’s appeal succeeded. The effect of the … Continue reading Shaw v Doleman: CA 1 Apr 2009
The degree to which an appellate court will be willing to substitute its own judgment for that of the tribunal will vary with the nature of the question. Hoffmann LJ said: ‘The concept of limited liability and the sophistication of our corporate law . .