Betta Build Group Pty Ltd v El Baba (No. 2) [2020] NSWDC 238

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Betta Build Group Pty Ltd v El Baba (No. 2) [2020] NSWDC 238 Hearing dates: 22 May 2020 Date of orders: 22 May 2020 Decision date: 22 May 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraphs 65-68 Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – referral of question of rectification costs for defective works to referee – whether referee's approach should be wholly or partly adopted – whether referee denied natural justice by closing his mind to the Builders' evidence and contentions – whether apprehended bias – whether referee failed to give adequate reasons for its findings Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56-60, 100 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Part 20 Cases Cited: Astor Properties Pty Ltd v L'Union des Assurance de Paris (1989) 17 NSWLR 483 Betta Build Group Pty Ltd v El Baba [2019] NSWDC 331 Carbotech-Australia Limited v Yates [2008] NSWSC 540 Chloride Batteries Australia Ltd v Glendale Chemical Products Pty Ltd (1988) 17 NSWLR 60 Chocolate Factory Apartments Ltd v Westpoint Finance Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 784 Foxman Holdings Pty Ltd v NMBE Pty Ltd (1994) 38 NSWLR 615 Illawarra Hotel Company Pty Ltd v Walton Construction Pty Ltd (2013) 84 NSWLR 410 Morrison v Moss (No. 3) [2020] NSWDC 136 New Price Retail Services Pty Ltd v Hanna [2014] NSWSC 553 Ryde City Council v Tourtouras [2007] NSWCA 218 Telecomputing PCS v Bridge Wholesale Accept Corporation (Aust) Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 513 The Owners-Strata Plan No. 30791 v Southern Cross Constructions (ACT) Pty Ltd (in liq) [2017] NSWSC 1660 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Betta Build Group Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Mr AR El Baba (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr F Anwar for the plaintiff Mr M Klooster for the defendant Solicitors: SMB Law for the plaintiff G&S Law Group for the defendant File Number(s): 2018/256941 Publication restriction: Nil