Roude v Helwani [2020] NSWCA 310

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Roude v Helwani [2020] NSWCA 310 Hearing dates: 21 October 2020 Decision date: 02 December 2020 Before: White JA at [1]; Brereton JA at [56]; McCallum JA at [57] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: RESTITUTION — Quantum meruit – whether necessary to establish "objective standard" or "market rate" for value of work performed – whether invoices prepared by builder capable of being evidence of reasonable remuneration – where unreasonableness of invoices denied by builder – where appeal confined to a question of law Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 79 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW) ss 39, 40 Cases Cited: Flett v Deniliquin Publishing Co Ltd (1964–1965) NSWR 383 Horley v Sector 7G Architecture Pty Ltd (in liq) [2011] NSWSC 827 L Shaddock and Associates Pty Ltd v Parramatta City Council (No. 1) (1981) 150 CLR 225; [1981] HCA 59 Mann v Patterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32; 93 ALJR 1164 McPhee v S Bennett Ltd (1934) 52 WN (NSW) 8 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paul (1987) 162 CLR 221; [1987] HCA 5 Re MSU Management Pty Ltd; Urusoglu v MSU Management Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 54 Roude v Helwani [2020] NSWSC 123 Sochorova v Durairaj [2020] QCA 158 Sopov v Kane Constructions Pty Ltd (No. 2) (2009) 24 VR 510; [2009] VSCA 141 South Australian Harbours Board v South Australian Gas Co (1934) 51 CLR 485; [1934] HCA 45 Thomas v Hollier (1984) 156 CLR 152; [1984] HCA 35 Whitehaven Coal Mining Ltd v Pain [2018] NSWCA 229 Yeats v Nominal Defendant [2004] NSWCA 259 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence, 12th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2020 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ali Roude (First Appellant) Susan Roude (Second Appellant) Adib Helwani (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: F Hicks SC with D Allen (Appellants) Q Rares (Respondent)