Wong v Van Vlymen [2020] NSWSC 841

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wong v Van Vlymen [2020] NSWSC 841 Hearing dates: 29 May, 3 and 9 June 2020

Written submissions were received from the plaintiffs on 28 May 2020, 2 June 2020 and 11 June 2020. Written submissions were received from the first and second defendants on 27 May 2020 and 9 June 2020. Decision date: 02 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Sackar J Decision: See paras [174]-[175] Parties to bring in short minutes of order Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Remedies — Damages — Damages in addition to order for specific performance CONTRACTS — Remedies — Damages — Damages after specific performance — Damages after election to continue or enforce order for specific performance CONTRACTS — Penalty — Whether clause in the form of a conditional release imposed an unenforceable penalty on the defendants — Whether amount to be paid upon breach was out of all proportion with the interests protected — Where loss difficult to calculate or insusceptible of calculation — Where amounts to be paid upon breach related to existing liabilities CONTRACTS — Construction — Where clauses and terms ambiguous — Reference to surrounding circumstances COSTS – Appropriate principles and considerations – Lump sum or gross costs order – Whether lump sum costs order should be made – Appropriate discount to lump sum or gross costs order INTEREST — Interest up to judgment and post judgment — Sections 100 and 101 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) — Interest on monies due under order for specific performance — Interest on monies due under subsequent deed — Interest on legal costs — Interest on foreign currency Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Abigroup Ltd v Abignano (1992) 39 FCR 74 Acron Pacific Ltd v Offshore Oil NL (1985) 157 CLR 514 Ailakis v Olivero (No 2) [2014] WASCA 127 AMEV-UDC Finance Ltd v Austin (1986) 162 CLR 170 Andrews v ANZ Banking Group Ltd (2012) 247 CLR 205 Arab Bank Australia Ltd v Sayde Developments P/L (2016) 93 NSWLR 231 ASIL Foundation (Lending) Pty Ltd v Langridge [2019] NSWSC 1574 Australian Hardwoods Limited v Hudson Investment Group Ltd (2007) 70 NSWLR 201 Auzcare P/L v Idameneo (No 123) P/L (2015) 91 NSWLR 581 Commonwealth of Australia v SCI Operations Pty Ltd (1998) 192 CLR 285 Despot v Registrar General [2016] NSWCA 5 Doppstadt Australia Pty Ltd v Lovick and Son Developments Pty ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 158 Edward Ted Lakis and Anor v Michael Victor Lardis and Anor (No 3) [2018] NSWSC 1296 Fisher-Pollard by her tutor Fisher-Pollard v Fisher-Pollard [2018] NSWSC 807 Fullers' Theatres Ltd v Musgrove (1923) 31 CLR 524 Georges v Wieland [2010] NSWSC 1378 Global Medical Solutions Australia Pty Ltd v Axiom Molecular Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1433 Haines v Bendall (1991) 172 CLR 60 Hamod v The State of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738 Hutchinson v Payne (1975) VR 175 Johnson v Agnew [1980] AC 367 Lahoud v Lahoud (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 55 Lawcover Insurance Pty Ltd v Muriniti and Newell [2018] NSWSC 558 Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406 McKeith v Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC [2016] NSWCA 260 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited (S99/2015; S102/2015) (2015) 256 CLR 104 O'Dea v Allstates Leasing System (WA) Pty Ltd (1983) 152 CLR 359 Ogle v Comboyuro Investments Pty Ltd (1976) 136 CLR 444 Paciocco v ANZ Banking Group Ltd (2016) 258 CLR 525 Patrick Wong and Anor v Willem Van Vlymen and Others [2018] NSWSC 312 Peachy v Duke of Somerset (1721) 1 Str 447 [93 ER 626] Perpetual Nominees Ltd v Parist Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1345 Riltang P/L v L P/L (2004) NSWSC 977 Ringrow Pty Ltd v BP Australia Pty Ltd (2005) 244 CLR 656 Ross v Padget [2016] NSWSC 1851 Ryan Kay v Playup Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 33 Ryledar v Pty Ltd v Euphoric Pty Ltd (2007) 69 NSWLR 603 Smith v Australian Executor Trustees Ltd (No 4) [2018] NSWSC 1584 TCN Channel 9 Pty Ltd v Hayden Enterprises Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 130 The Berry Rural Co Operative Society Ltd v Sepak Industries Pty Ltd (No 4) [2018] NSWSC 1902 United Australia Ltd v Barclays Bank Ltd [1941] AC 1 Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia v Stewart (1919) 27 CLR 119 Wong v Van Vlymen [2016] NSWSC 161 Texts Cited: Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW Category: Principal judgment Parties: Patrick Wong (first plaintiff) Overseas Shipping Trading and Investment Pty Limited; Cook Islands Company number 3421/1998 (second plaintiff) Willem Van Vlymen (first defendant) Margriet Van Vlymen (second defendant) Pacific Investment Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 001 614 964) (third defendant) Orbis Commodities Pty Ltd (ACN 003 546 898) (fourth defendant) Pacific Investment Ltd; Cook Islands company number 3749/2000 (fifth defendant) Representation: Counsel: I Jackman SC, S Burchett (plaintiffs) A Leopold SC, H Somerville (defendants)