The Full Court of the Supreme Court of NSW has dismissed an appeal by Park Trent Properties Group Pty Ltd (Park Trent) from the judgment of his Honour Acting Justice Sackville handed down in October 2015 (refer: 15-300MR).

In a unanimous decision delivered by His Honour Justice Leeming on 3 November, the Court found that no error had been made by the trial judge in refusing an application by Park Trent to amend its defence on the sixth day of the nine-day trial.

Further, even if the amendment had been allowed, the regulation upon which Park Trent sought to rely would not have applied to the advice of Park Trent, which was the subject of the proceedings.

Park Trent will be required to pay ASIC's costs of the appeal.

ASIC Commissioner Greg Tanzer said, "ASIC welcomes the dismissal of the appeal. ASIC's action against Park Trent has highlighted there are serious consequences for property spruikers who break the law by providing unlicensed financial product advice. "

Read the Court's findings here

Background:

ASIC launched legal proceedings in November 2014 against Park Trent, who by the time of the trial in June 2015 had advised over 860 members of the public to establish and switch funds into an SMSF (refer: 14-299MR).

Final orders were handed down in November 2015 (refer: 15-358MR) and an appeal was launched on 26 February 2016.