GC NSW Pty Ltd v Galati [2020] NSWCA 326

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: GC NSW Pty Ltd v Galati [2020] NSWCA 326 Hearing dates: 24 September 2020 Date of orders: 11 December 2020 Decision date: 11 December 2020 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] White JA at [144] Emmett AJA at [145] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Set aside the orders made by Robb J on 25 March 2020 and in lieu thereof order: (a) Judgment for the first plaintiff against the second defendant in the amount of $10,979.41 plus interest pursuant to s 100 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) to the date of judgment of $1,683.70. This judgment to take effect on 25 March 2020; (b) The proceedings be otherwise dismissed, except for the first plaintiff's claim for damages against the second defendant for breach of the option deed dated 8 May 2016; (c) Remit the proceedings to the primary judge for the assessment of damages for breach by the second defendant of the option deed dated 8 May 2016 and reconsideration of the costs of the proceedings below following the determination by the primary judge of the assessment of damages. (3) The respondents to pay the appellants' costs in this Court. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – formation – intention to create legal relations – uncertainty and incompleteness – owners of three contiguous parcels of land dealt with development group in relation to proposed sale of land for redevelopment – where put and call option deeds entered into – where one owner entered into separate deed for the purchase back of five developed lots – where agreement reached on various matters between parties' agents at later meeting– whether intention to create legal relations at later meeting – whether terms of agreement at meeting were void for uncertainty and incompleteness CONTRACTS – formation – whether deed which provided for purchase back of five lots abandoned by parties – whether purchaser entitled to damages for breach of deed – where primary judge left undetermined possible basis for finding damages for breach of deed – damages claim remitted for the determination Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 100 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 54A Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 131 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2004 (NSW), rr 14.7, 14.14 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Barrier Wharfs Ltd v W Scott Fell & Co Ltd (1908) 5 CLR 647 Baulkham Hills v G R Securities (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Blackpool and Fylde Aero Club Ltd v Blackpool Borough Council [1990] 1 WLR 1195 Boensch v Pascoe [2019] HCA 49; (2019) 94 ALJR 112 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424; [2001] FCA 1833 B Seppelt & Sons Ltd v Commissioner for Main Roads (1975) 1 BPR 9,147 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95; [2002] HCA 8 Film Bars Pty Ltd v Pacific Film Laboratories Pty Ltd (1979) 1 BPR [97,023] G R Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Howard Smith & Co Ltd v Varawa (1907) 5 CLR 68 Ingot Capital Investments Pty Ltd v Macquarie Equity Capital Markets Ltd (2008) 73 NSWLR 653; [2008] NSWCA 206 Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 11,110 Kirby v Sanderson Motors Pty Ltd (2002) 54 NSWLR 135; [2002] NSWCA 44 Kuru v State of New South Wales (2008) 236 CLR 1; [2008] HCA 26 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353; [1954] HCA 72 Ryder v Frohlich [2004] NSWCA 472 Shepperd v Municipality of Ryde (1952) 85 CLR 1; [1952] HCA 9 Sinclair, Scott & Co v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 South Australia v Commonwealth (1962) 108 CLR 130 Texts Cited: Heydon on Contract (LawBook Co, 2019) Category: Principal judgment Parties: GC NSW Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Greencapital Development Pty Ltd (Second Appellant) Marcellina Galati (First Respondent) VM Galati Super Fund Pty Ltd ACN 617 338 548 ATF VM Galati Super Fund (Second Respondent) Caterina Galati (Third Respondent) BMG Riverstone Pty Ltd ACN 617 339 858 ATF BMG Riverstone Property Trust (Fourth Respondent) Francesco Camera (Fifth Respondent) Barbara Camera (Sixth Respondent) Gregorio Galati (Seventh Respondent) Celeste Levingson (Eighth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J A C Potts SC / A R Langshaw (Appellants) M T McCulloch SC / M J Bennett (Respondents)