Lumina BPO Pty Limited v ELB Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWDC 712

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lumina BPO Pty Limited v ELB Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWDC 712 Hearing dates: 29, 30, 31 July; 3, 6, 11, 26, 27 and 28 August 2020 Date of orders: 1 September 2020 Decision date: 01 September 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the sum of $189,335.51 including interest. (2) Costs reserved. Catchwords: CONTRACTS - construction and interpretation - whether contract a "fixed price" or a "do and charge" contract – contract for accounting services – whether a maximum fee was specified – whether work needed to be completed – whether contract required completion within three months – whether work outside the retainer was performed Cases Cited: Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd (No 4) [2006] FCA 446 Cherry v Steele-Park [2017] NSWCA 295 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage & Motor Co Ltd [1915] AC 79 Electricity Generation Corporation t/as Verve Energy v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Lumina BPO Pty Limited v ELB Pty Ltd [2020] NSWDC 710 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Ltd v Withers (1988) 5 ANZ Ins Cases 60-853 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457; [1933] HCA 25 Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2016) 258 CLR 525; [2016] HCA 28 Trawl Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Effem Foods Pty Ltd (t/a Uncle Bens of Australia) (1992) 27 NSWLR 326 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lumina BPO Pty Limited (plaintiff) ELB Pty Ltd (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Neggo (plaintiff) Mr M T Keene (defendant)