Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Ltd v Budget Demolitions & Excavations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1307

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Ltd v Budget Demolitions & Excavations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1307 Hearing dates: 6 and 7 August 2020. Last written submissions 28 August 2020. Date of orders: 25 September 2020 Decision date: 25 September 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: See paragraph [210] Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Pleadings – Striking out – No reasonable cause of action or defence – Tendency to cause embarrassment – whether plaintiff's claims should be struck out or dismissed – where plaintiff claims liquidated damages for delay, damages for failure to complete contract works, restitution for overpayments and an entitlement to set-off debts due to the defendant – plaintiff's claims struck out in part CIVIL PROCEDURE – Technology and Construction List – Entry in – where it is unknown whether proceedings will remain in the Supreme Court of NSW – proceedings not transferred to construction list CIVIL PROCEDURE – application to re-open case – where plaintiff seeks leave to tender a deed of company arrangement and affidavit from administrator – leave to tender deed granted – where administrator's affidavit of limited probative value – leave to tender affidavit refused CORPORATIONS – Voluntary administration – Deed of company arrangement – whether defendant has been granted leave under s 444E(3) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to bring its cross-claim and proceed with motion for judgment – whether leave should be granted and judgment entered – where defendant seeks judgment on payment claim and plaintiff failed to pay or provide a payment schedule – judgment ordered on condition defendant not entitled to execute against plaintiff's assets Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), ss 15(2)(a)(i), 15(4)(b)(ii), 31(1)(a), 32 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56 to 58, 98, 100 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 109X(1)(b), 440D(1), 444D(1), 444E(3), 435C(1)(b), 435C(2)(a) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 2.1, 13.4, 14.28(1), 42.1, 42.7 Cases Cited: Adelaide Brighton Cement Limited, in the matter of Concrete Supply Pty Ltd v Concrete Supply Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) [2018] FCA 315 Attard v James Legal Pty Limited [2010] NSWCA 311 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Rich (2006) 235 ALR 587; [2006] NSWSC 826 Cellarit Pty Ltd v Cawarrah Holdings Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 266 Falgat Constructions Pty Ltd v Equity Australia Corp Pty Ltd (2005) 62 NSWLR 385; [2005] NSWCA 49 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Limited v Budget Demolitions & Excavations Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 343 Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Limited v Budget Demolitions Pty Limited [2018] NSWSC 1647 Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Limited v Budget Demolitions Pty Limited (2019) 99 NSWLR 397; [2019] NSWCA 60 Hill v Esplanade Wollongong Pty Ltd ACN 141 133 708 (subject to a deed of company arrangement) [2018] NSWSC 478 Hoath v Connect Internet Services Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 158 In the matter of Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Limited (administrator appointed) [2019] NSWSC 1243 In the matter of Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Limited (subject to deed of company arrangement) (Supreme Court (NSW), Rees J, 20 December 2019, unrep) Josia v Horvat Constructions [2004] NSWSC 1252 McGuirk v University of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1424 Mehan v Arrium Limited (formerly OneSteel Ltd) [2016] NSWSC 1680 O'Brien v Bank of Western Australia [2013] NSWCA 71 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Limited v DDI Group Pty Limited (2017) 95 NSWLR 82; [2017] NSWCA 151 Re Antqip Hire Pty Limited (subject to deed of company arrangement) (in liq) [2020] NSWSC 487 Re QMT Constructions Pty Ltd [2000] 1 Qd R 284; [1999] QSC 2 Shaw v KPR Recruitment Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 707 Shelton v National Roads and Motorists Association Limited [2004] FCA 1393 Simmons v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2014] NSWCA 405 Spencer v Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 Taouk v Assure (NSW) Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 224 The Owners – Strata Plan No 74602 v Brookfield Australia Investments Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1682 Urban Transport Authority of NSW v Nweiser (1992) 28 NSWLR 478 Wendt v Bruce (1931) 45 CLR 245; [1931] HCA 9 White Industries Australia Limited v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2007) 160 FCR 298; [2007] FCA 511 Texts Cited: JW Carter, Contract Law in Australia (7th ed, 2018, LexisNexis Butterworths) at [31-05] Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Ltd (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Budget Demolitions & Excavations Pty Ltd (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: V Culkoff (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) N Allan (Defendant/Cross-Claimant)