DGF Property Holdings Pty Limited v Di Federico (No 4) [2021] NSWSC 157

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: DGF Property Holdings Pty Limited v Di Federico (No 4) [2021] NSWSC 157 Hearing dates: 3 July 2020 (Submissions 6 July 2020); Directions 21 July 2020 Date of orders: 2 March 2021 Decision date: 02 March 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Emmett AJA Decision: Order that: 1. The Plaintiff, within 14 days, file and serve Proposed Short Minutes of Orders giving effect to these reasons and the earlier judgments. 2. The Defendants, within a further 14 days, file and serve a note indicating any dispute with the proposed orders. 3. If there is any dispute, each of the parties has leave to apply for the purpose of fixing a date for further argument. 4. If there is no dispute as to the proposed orders, judgment be entered in accordance with the proposed orders. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — court administration — court powers — recall of prior reasons in proceedings — circumstances — observations made per incuriam — court not yet functus officio — final orders yet to be made — whether power to recall based upon UCPR r 36.17 CONTRACTS — remedies — damages — assessment — quantum dependent on prior loan agreements — whether evidence capable of establishing terms of such loan agreements CORPORATIONS — formation — pre-registration contracts — requirements of Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 131 — whether evidence established that "a person" purported to enter a contract on behalf of or for the benefit of a company prior to registration — whether conduct of company shareholders or director capable of ratifying purported agreements after registration Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 66ZL Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 131 Conveyancing Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (NSW), r 36.17 Cases Cited: Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 Babcock International Ltd v Babcock Australia Ltd; Babcock Australia Ltd v Eraring Energy (2003) 56 NSWLR 51; [2003] NSWCA 6 BJ McAdam Pty Ltd v Jax Tyres Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 1438 Black v Smallwood (1966) 117 CLR 52; [1966] HCA 2 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 DGF Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Di Federico; DGF Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Butros [2018] NSWSC 344 DGF Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Di Federico; DGF Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Butros (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1137 DGF Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Di Federico (No 3) [2020] NSWSC 510 Ex parte Harper; Re Rosenfield [1964-5] NSWR 58 Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 11,110 Kelner v Baxter (1866) LR 2 CP 174 Painaway Australia Pty Ltd v JAKL Group Pty Ltd (2011) 249 FLR 1; [2011] NSWSC 205 Re Express Engineering Works Ltd [1920] 1 Ch 466; All ER Rep Ext 850 Sydney Appliances Pty Ltd (in liq) v Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 32; 33 ACSR 680 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Verschures Creameries Ltd v Hull & Netherlands Steamship Company Ltd [1921] 2 KB 608 Texts Cited: G Dal Pont, Law of Agency (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2014) W Bowstead, FMB Reynolds, P Watts, Bowstead and Reynolds on Agency (19th ed, 2010, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: DGF Property Holdings Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Enzo Di Federico (First Defendant) Franca Di Federico (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G Sirtes SC with P Barham (Plaintiff) M Ashhurst SC (Defendants)