Xu v Lindsay Bennelong Developments Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 1692

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Xu v Lindsay Bennelong Developments Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 1692 Hearing dates: 9–11 and 23 September 2020 Date of orders: 27 November 2020 Decision date: 27 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the plaintiff's claim against both defendants. 2. Dismiss the first and second defendants' cross-claim against the plaintiff/first cross-defendant. 3. Reserve the question of costs. Catchwords: LAND LAW — Conveyancing — Contract for sale — Off-the-plan purchase — Alleged breach of fundamental term — Remedies CONTRACTS — Misleading conduct under statute — Misleading or deceptive conduct — Representations — Remedies Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 84, 87CD, 137B; sch 2 ss 4, 18, 29, 30, 236, 237, 243 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 66W Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 53, 53A, 82 Cases Cited: Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424; [2004] HCA 28 Ankar Proprietary Limited v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Limited (1986-1987) 162 CLR 549 Arnold v Britton [2016] 1 All ER 1; [2015] AC 1619 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2014] FCA 634 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dukemaster Pty Ltd (ACN 050 275 226) [2009] FCA 682 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Woolworths Limited [2019] FCA 1039 Awad v Twin Creeks Properties Pty Limited [2012] NSWCA 200 Bain v Fothergill (1874) LR 7 HL 158 Batey v Gifford (1997) 42 NSWLR 710 Beard v Drummoyne Municipal Council [1970] 1 NSWR 432; (1969) 71 SR (NSW) 250 Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd v GWA Ltd (1983) 78 FLR 171 Bofinger v Kingsway Group Limited (2009) 239 CLR 269; [2009] HCA 44 Bowler v Hilda Pty Ltd (1998) 80 FCR 191 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Limited v President, Councillors and Ratepayers of the Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Limited (2004) 218 CLR 592; [2004] HCA 60 Byrnes v Kendle (2011) 243 CLR 253; [2011] HCA 26 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304; [2009] HCA 25 Christopoulos v Angelos (1996) 41 NSWLR 700 Clarence City Council v Howlin [2019] TASFC 1 Collins Marrickville Pty Ltd v Henjo Investments Pty Ltd (1987) 72 ALR 601 Concrete Constructions Group Ltd v Litevale Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 670; (2002) 170 FLR 290 Dainford Ltd v Lam (1985) 3 NSWLR 255 Darlington Futures Limited v Delco Australia Proprietary Limited (1986) 161 CLR 500; [1986] HCA 82 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 Dougan v Ley (1946) 71 CLR 142; [1946] HCA 3 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Flight v Booth (1834) 1 Bing (NC) 370; (1834) 131 ER 1160 Fu v Bucasia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 325 Gates v The City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1986) 160 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 3 Gaut v Patterson (1931) 31 SR (NSW) 612 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Pty Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 Gould v Vaggelas (1984) 157 CLR 215; [1984] HCA 68 Greene v West Cheshire Railway Co (1871) LR 13 Eq 44 Harrington v Greenwood Grove Estate Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 833 Hart v MacDonald (1910) 10 CLR 417; [1910] HCA 13 Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459; [2001] HCA 52 Higgins v Statewide Developments Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 183 Hissett v Reading Roofing Co Ltd [1970] 1 All ER 122; [1969] 1 WLR 1757 Ho v Powell (2001) 51 NSWLR 572; [2001] NSWCA 168 Hoyt's Proprietary Limited v Spencer (1919) 27 CLR 133; [1919] HCA 64 HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Astonland Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 640; [2004] HCA 54 Ingot Capital Investments Pty Ltd v Macquarie Equity Capital Markets Ltd (2008) 73 NSWLR 653; [2008] NSWCA 206 International Air Transport Association v Ansett Australia Holdings Limited (2008) 234 CLR 151; [2008] HCA 3 Jireh International Pty Ltd v Western Export Services Inc [2011] NSWCA 137 Knight Sugar Company Ltd v The Alberta Railway & Irrigation Company [1938] 1 All ER 266 Lawrence v Cassel [1930] 2 KB 83 Longtom Pty Ltd v Oberon Shire Council (1996) 7 BPR 14,799 Lucantonio v Ciofuli [2002] NSWSC 509 Mark Bain Constructions Pty Ltd v Avis [2012] QCA 100 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Limited (1998) 196 CLR 494; [1998] HCA 69 Miller & Associates Insurance Broking Pty Ltd v BMW Australia Finance Limited (2010) 241 CLR 357; [2010] HCA 31 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Limited (2004) 216 CLR 388; [2004] HCA 3 Nassif v Caminer (2009) 74 NSWLR 276; [2009] NSWCA 45 North East Equity Pty Ltd v Proud Nominees Pty Ltd [2010] FCAFC 60 Pallos v Munro [1970] 3 NSWR 110; (1970) 72 SR (NSW) 507 Palmer v Johnson (1884) 13 QBD 351 Pascon Pty Ltd v San Marco in Lamis Cooperative Social Club Ltd [1991] 2 VR 227 Redmond Family Holdings v CG Access Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 796 Secure Parking Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2016] NSWCA 154 Shepperd v Council of the Municipality of Ryde (1951-1952) 85 CLR 1; [1952] HCA 9 Silva v Tarval Pty Ltd [1990] ANZ ConvR 465; (1990) NSW ConvR 55-533 Simic v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (2016) 260 CLR 85; [2016] HCA 47 Smogurzewski v AIT Investment Group Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 490 SPAR Licensing Pty Ltd v MIS QLD Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 50 Sumy Pty Ltd v Southcorp Wines Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 1000 Svanosio v McNamara (1956) 96 CLR 186; [1956] HCA 55 Tabcorp Holdings Ltd v Bowen Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 236 CLR 272; [2009] HCA 8 Tarval Pty Ltd v Stevens (1990) NSW ConvR 55-552 Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Travinto Nominees Pty Limited v Vlattas (1973) 129 CLR 1; [1973] HCA 14 Vella v Ayshan [2008] NSWSC 84 Victorsen v Easy Living Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1721 Wang v Polaris Holdings Rosebery Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 213 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wheeler Grace & Pierucci Pty Ltd v Wright (1989) 16 IPR 189 Williams v Pisano (2015) 90 NSWLR 342; [2015] NSWCA 177 Wilson v Meudon Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 448 Zaccardi v Caunt [2008] NSWCA 202 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Heydon on Contract (1st ed, 2019, Thompson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lijun Xu (Plaintiff) Lindsay Bennelong Developments Pty Limited (First Defendant) Bennelong Developments Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) TFM Rushcutters Bay Land Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Cairns with A Cameron (Plaintiff) S B Docker (First and Second Defendants) D L Cook SC (Third Defendant)