G&S Engineering Services Pty Ltd v MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] NSWSC 1721

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: G&S Engineering Services Pty Ltd v MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] NSWSC 1721 Hearing dates: 24 September 2020; further written submissions received 28 and 29 September 2020 Date of orders: 4 December 2020 Decision date: 04 December 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Henry J Decision: Leave to amend granted. See paragraph [112]. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – leave to amend technology and construction list cross-claim response – where cross-defendants wish to amend to raise new defence to claims they had engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct during the course of a construction project – where new defences seek to rely on alleged misleading representations made to the cross-defendants by the cross-claimants prior to entry into the project contract – where new defences seek to limit damages recoverable by the cross-claimants on their misleading and deceptive conduct claim – whether defences should be struck out as contrary to public policy – whether arguable that parties can agree to limits on their liability under the Australian Consumer Law – leave to amend granted Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58, 64 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Abigroup Contractors Pty Limited v Sydney Catchment Authority [2005] NSWSC 662 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Bakewell v Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Limited [2019] NSWCA 199 Brighton Australia Pty Limited v Multiplex Constructions Pty Limited (2018) 56 VR 557; [2018] VSC 246 Burke v LFOT Pty Limited (2002) 209 CLR 282; [2002] HCA 17 DIF III – Global Co-Investment Fund LP v Babcock & Brown International Pty Limited [2019] NSWSC 527 Equuscorp Pty Limited v Haxton (2012) 246 CLR 498; [2012] HCA 7 Firstmac Fiduciary Services Pty Ltd v HSBC Bank of Australia Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1122 G&S Engineering Services Pty Ltd v MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 407 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Gnych v Polish Club Ltd (2015) 255 CLR 414; [2015] HCA 23 Henjo Investments Pty Ltd v Collins Marrickville Pty Limited (No 1) (1988) 39 FCR 546 IOOF Australia Trustees (NSW) Limited v Tantipech [1998] FCA 924 JJMMR Pty Limited v LG International Corp [2003] QCA 519 JM & PM Holdings Pty Ltd v Snap-on Tools (Australia) Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 347 Lane Cove Council v Michael Davies Associates Pty Limited [2012] NSWSC 727 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494; [1998] HCA 69 MBF Investments Pty Ltd v Nolan (2011) 37 VR 116; [2011] VSCA 114 Miller v Miller (2011) 242 CLR 446; [2011] HCA 9 Omega Air Inc v CAE Australia Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 802 Owners SP 62930 v Kell & Rigby Pty Limited [2009] NSWSC 1342 Scarborough v Klich [2001] NSWCA 436 Simmons v New South Wales Trustee and Guardian [2014] NSWCA 405 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 Venerdi v Anthony Moreton Group Funds Management Limited [2015] 1 Qd R 214; [2013] QSC 219 Westfield Management Limited v AMP Capital Property Nominees Ltd (2012) 247 CLR 129; [2012] HCA 54 WLD Practice Holdings Pty Ltd v Stockham [2020] NSWSC 395 Texts Cited: R Scruby SC "Contracting out of Statutory prohibitions against misleading or deceptive conduct" (2019) 47(2) Australian Bar Review 181 JD Heydon "Avoiding Liability under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)" (2020) 28(1) Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law 13 JD Heydon, Trade Practices Law – Competition and Consumer Law (2020, Thomson Reuters, looseleaf) Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: G&S Engineering Services Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant) DRA Pacific Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant)