Scott v Ennis-Oakes [2020] NSWCA 239

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Scott v Ennis-Oakes [2020] NSWCA 239 Hearing dates: 7 May 2020 Decision date: 01 October 2020 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Bell P at [61]; Gleeson JA at [64] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Order the appellants pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: LAND LAW – Conveyancing – Contract for sale – Rescission – Respondent wished to rescind contract – Appellants did not consent to proposed rescission and maintained contract was "still on foot" – Appellants elected to affirm contract rather than terminating and seeking loss of bargain damages – Appellants sought orders for specific performance – Respondent subsequently entered into a Scheme of Arrangement Deed and sought to rescind the contract on this basis – Appellants sought loss of bargain damages – Whether contract came to an end because of supervening circumstances – Whether appellants entitled to loss of bargain damages at the time when respondent terminated contract on basis of entering into Scheme of Arrangement. Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) Cases Cited: Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v Carlton & United Breweries Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 468 Cheall v Association of Professional Executive Clerical and Computer Staff [1983] 2 AC 180 Concut Pty Ltd v Worrell [2000] HCA 64; (2000) 75 ALJR 312 Dominion Coal Co Ltd v Dominion Iron and Steel Co Ltd [1909] AC 293 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Heyman v Darwins [1942] AC 356 Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32; (2019) 93 ALJR 1164 Peter Turnbull & Co Pty Ltd v Mundus Trading Co (Australia) Pty Ltd (1954) 90 CLR 235; [1954] HCA 25 Progressive Mailing House v Tabali Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 17; [1985] HCA 14 Re Gibbs and Houlder Bros & Co Limited's Lease [1925] Ch 198 Shevill v Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620; [1982] HCA 47 Sibbles v Highfern Pty Ltd (1988) 164 CLR 214 at 227; [1987] HCA 66 Sunbird Plaza Pty Ltd v Maloney (1988) 166 CLR 245; [1988] HCA 11 The Millstream Pty Ltd v Schultz [1980] 1 NSWLR 547 Upper Hunter Timbers Pty Ltd v Forestry Commission of NSW [1999] NSWCA 125 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kylie Anne Scott (first appellant) Bradley John Scott (second appellant) Nicole Rae Ennis-Oakes (respondent) Representation: Counsel: A D Crossland with M Cobb-Clark (appellants) J C Kelly SC with M F Newtown (respondent)