In Crab and Fish One Pty Ltd v Lindeque [2024] QDC 112, the plaintiff, Crab and Fish One Pty Ltd, sued Susanna Wilhelmina Lindeque, the defendant, for defaulting on a short-term loan guaranteed by the defendant. The defendant failed to attend the trial and did not request an adjournment or provide a justification for her absence.
The plaintiff's evidence established that the loan agreement, initially set for six months and extended three times at the defendant's request, was defaulted upon. The loan principal was $250,000 with a 20 per cent per annum interest rate, resulting in a total debt of $489,753.84, inclusive of capitalised interest by the trial date. The court found in favour of the plaintiff, primarily because the defendant did not appear to contest the claims or cross-examine witnesses, and had failed to provide any substantial defense. The court ordered the defendant to pay the plaintiff $489,753.84, plus standard costs and any reserved costs.