Roma Lopeman v WIN Corporation Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1305

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Roma Lopeman v WIN Corporation Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1305 Hearing dates: 22, 23, 24, 28 July 2020, further submissions on estoppel, 31 July 2020 Decision date: 28 September 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Sackar J Decision: See para 206 Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Formation — Whether binding agreement existed between the parties —Where defendant provided letter to Council stating that parties had reached in principle agreement regarding the grant of easement by the defendant in favour of the plaintiff — Where parties had negotiated the terms of a Deed providing for the grant of the easement — Whether intention of the parties was not to make a concluded bargain unless and until they executed the Deed —Where the Deed was not signed by the defendant ESTOPPEL — Promissory or proprietary estoppel — Whether the defendant represented that it agreed to or would grant an easement to the plaintiff— Whether plaintiff relied on such a representation or promise — Where defendant provided letter to Council that parties had reached in principle agreement regarding the grant of easement — Discussion as to appropriate relief if estoppel made out LAND LAW — Easements — Whether easement should be granted pursuant to s 88K of the Conveyancing Act — Whether easement reasonably necessary — Where alternative access routes potentially available — Where proposed easement provided the safer and more practical route Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 88K Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) 29(2) Cases Cited: 117 York Street Pty Ltd v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 16123 (1998) 43 NSWLR 504 Ashton v Pratt (2015) 88 NSWLR 281 Austotel Pty Ltd v Franklins Selfserve Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 582 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Caringbah Investments Pty Ltd v Caringbah Business and Sports Club Ltd (in liq) [2016] NSWCA 165 Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Doueihi [2014] NSWSC 1717; 17 BPR 33,457 Crabb v Arun District Council [1976] Ch 179; [1975] 3 All ER 865 DHJPM Pty Limited v Blackthorn Resources Limited (formerly called AIM Resources Ltd) (2011) 83 NSWLR 728 Dillwyn v Llewelyn (1862) 4 De GF & J 517; 45 ER 1285 Electricity Generation Corporation t/as Verve Energy v Woodside Energy (2014) 251 CLR 640 Feldman v GNM Australia Ltd [2017] NSWCA 107 Giumelli v Giumelli (1999) 196 CLR 101 Gordon v Lever (No 2) [2019] NSWCA 275 GR Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Gold Mines Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 641 Kelly v Fraser [2013] 1 AC 450 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115 Left Bank Investments Pty Ltd v Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Corporation [2020] NSWCA 144 Malago Pty Ltd v AW Ellis Engineering Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 227 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd v Tanlane Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 445 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited (S99/2015; S102/2015) (2015) 256 CLR 104 Pagnan SpA v Feed Products [1987] 2 Lloyd's Rep 601 Pavlovic v Universal Music Australia Pty Limited [2015] NSWCA 313 Plimmer v Mayor of Wellington [1884] 9 App Cas 699; [1881-5] All ER Ext 1320 Ramsden v Dyson (1866) LR 1 HL 129 Riches v Hogben [1985] 2 Qd R 292 Saleh v Romanous (2010) 79 NSWLR 453; [2010] NSWCA 274 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505 Silovi Pty Ltd v Barbaro (1988) 13 NSWLR 466 Studholme v Rawson [2020] NSWCA 76 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 Tramways Advertising Pty Limited v Luna Park (NSW) [1938] NSWStRp 37; (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 632 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v Pavlovic [2015] NSWSC 791 Van Dyke v Sidhu [2013] NSWCA 198 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Texts Cited: n/a Category: Principal judgment Parties: Roma Elaine Lopeman (plaintiff) WIN Corporation Pty Ltd (defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Philips (plaintiff) M Galvin (defendant)