Allen v Tobias [1958] HCA 13; (1958) 98 CLR 367 (4 April 1958)

HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

ALLEN v. TOBIAS [1958] HCA 13; (1958) 98 CLR 367

Local Government

High Court of Australia
Dixon C.J.(1), McTiernan(1) and Williams(1) JJ.

CATCHWORDS

Local Government - Councillor - Disqualification - Of person "concerned . . . in any contract or in any work to be done under the authority of any such Council" - Meaning - Action for penalties against disqualified councillor - Onus of proof - Provision for recovery of penalty "with full costs of suit" - Meaning - Presumptions - Omnia praesumuntur contra spoliatorem - Destruction of document by party to suit - Local Government Act 1946 (No. 5203) (Vict.) ss. 53 (1), 56 (1), (2).

HEARING

Melbourne, 1957, October 24, 25, 28, 29;
Sydney, 1958, April 4. 4:4:1958

DECISION

Paine v. Loft (1953) VLR 601
The Ophelia (1916) 2 AC 206
Nicholson v. Fields [1862] EngR 321; (1862) 7 H & N 810 (158 ER 695)
Middleton v. Marks (1904) 29 VLR 631
Nutton v. Wilson (1889) 22 QBD 744
Sloane v. Sambell (1931) VLR 393
England v. Inglis (1920) 2 KB 636
Towsey v. White [1826] EngR 657; (1826) 5 B & C 125 (108 ER 46)
Barnacle v. Clark (1900) 1 QB 279
Todd v. Robinson (1884) 14 QBD 739
Holden v. Southwark Corporation (1921) 1 Ch 550
Everett v. Griffiths (1924) 1 KB 941
Lapish v. Braithwaite (1925) 1 KB 474; (1926) AC 275
Lane v. Atkin [1922] HCA 14; (1922) 30 CLR 437
Jamieson v. Trevelyan [1855] EngR 80; (1855) 10 Ex 748 (156 ER 642)
Avery v. Wood (1891) 3 Ch 115