Cappello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 57

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Cappello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 57 Hearing dates: 4 March 2021; written submissions 8, 17, 19 March 2021 Decision date: 14 April 2021 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; McCallum JA at [97]. Decision: 1. Grant leave to amend, in terms of the draft notice of appeal annexed to the appellants' submissions in reply filed 1 March 2021, and dispense with the requirements of filing and service. 2. Appeal allowed in part, confined to ground 10. 3. Set aside the judgment for the first defendant in the sum of $76,510.68 entered on 7 August 2020, and in lieu thereof enter judgment for the first defendant in the sum of $50,097.32. 4. Otherwise dismiss the appeal. 5. The appellants to pay 75% of the respondents' costs of the appeal. Catchwords: CONTRACT – cost plus contract for building work – claim in debt following non-payment of final invoice – belated submission that condition precedent requiring provision of details of cost of building works accompany builder's invoice not satisfied – submission not made to trial judge – whether point available on appeal CONTRACT – building contract – claim for defective work – owner directed re-pouring of lowered slab – whether that work was a consequence of incorrectly built ceiling – whether owner entitled to damages CONTRACT – quantification of damages – building contract – delay in performance – whether owner entitled to damages for diminution in market value of residential house – whether owner entitled to general damages for limited use and loss of amenity while building works continued PLEADINGS – conditions precedent – implied allegation that all conditions precedent to plaintiffs' claim satisfied – obligation on defendant to identify with specificity non-satisfaction of condition precedent to plaintiffs' claim – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 14.11, 14.14 – history of rules – consequences of failure to comply with rules Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), ss 7, 32 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Pt 2 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Common Law Procedure Act 1852 (UK), s 57 Common Law Procedure Act 1853 (NSW), s 52 Common Law Procedure Act 1899 (NSW), s 66 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), s 8A, 10, 18G Judicature Act 1875 (UK), s 16 Rules of the Supreme Court 1883 (UK) Ord XIX r 14 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 101, 122, Schedule 4 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 14.11, 14.14, 51.36 Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552; [2000] HCA 41 Archibald v Powlett (2017) 53 VR 645; [2017] VSCA 259 Arnold v Britton [2015] AC 1619; [2015] UKSC 36 Ashby v Bates (1846) 15 M & W 589 Bond Air Services Ld v Hill [1955] 2 QB 417 Cappello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1021 Cappello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1199 Clark v Macourt (2013) 253 CLR 1; [2013] HCA 56 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64; [1991] HCA 54 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 Creative Building Services v Jolene Investments [2013] NSWSC 391 Glencore Coal Queensland Pty Ltd v Aurizon Network Pty Ltd [2020] QCA 182 In re Robinson's Settlement; Gant v Hobbs [1912] 1 Ch 717 Ipstar Australia Pty Ltd v APS Satellite Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 15; 356 ALR 440 Jireh International Pty Ltd t/as Gloria Jean's Coffee v Western Exports Services Inc [2011] NSWCA 137 King v Poggioli (1923) 32 CLR 222; [1923] HCA 11 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28 Leeda Projects Pty Ltd v Zeng (2020) 61 VR 384; [2020] VSCA 192 Lorrimar v Serco Sodexo Defence Services Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 371 Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association Inc v Brett [2019] 2 NZLR 808; [2019] NZCA 67 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457; [1933] HCA 25 McDonald v McMullen (1908) 25 WN(NSW) 142 Mehmet v Benson (1965) 113 CLR 295; [1965] HCA 18 Moore v Scenic Tours Pty Ltd [2020] HCA 17; 94 ALJR 481 Nu Line Construction Group Pty Ltd v Fowler (aka Grippaudo) [2012] NSWSC 587; 16 BPR 31,011 Paff v Speed (1961) 105 CLR 549; [1961] HCA 14 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850; 154 ER 363 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418; [1950] HCA 35 Tabcorp Holdings Ltd v Bowen Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 236 CLR 272; [2009] HCA 8 Teubner v Humble (1963) 108 CLR 491; [1963] HCA 11 UAERJ Pty Ltd v Jupiters Ltd [2014] NSWCA 213 Walker v Jeffreys (1841) 1 Ha 341; 66 ER 1064 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491; [1988] HCA 12 Wertheim v Chicoutimi Pulp Company [1911] AC 301 Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd atf Chan & Naylor Parramatta Trust [2020] NSWCA 62 Zisis v Knighton [2008] NSWCA 42 Texts Cited: Bullen, E and S Leake, Precedents of Pleadings (3rd ed, London, Stevens & Sons, 1868) Cornish, W et al, The Oxford History of the Laws of England (Oxford University Press, 2010) Vol XI Snelling, H, "Common Law Pleading – Conditions Precedent and the Onus of Proof" (1939) 13 Australian Law Journal 105 Tomlinson, F, The Judicature Acts and Rules of the Supreme Court 1883. With notes and index (London, William Clowes and Sons, 1883) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rosario Cappello (First Appellant) Maria Cappello (Second Appellant) Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd (First Respondent) John Re (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Breakspear (Appellants) D O'Connor (Respondents)