Hannigan v Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 641

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hannigan v Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 641 Hearing dates: 28 May 2021 Date of orders: 7 June 2021 Decision date: 07 June 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Application to stay proceedings dismissed Catchwords: ESTOPPEL – estoppel by judgment – Anshun estoppel – unreasonableness of conduct – where plaintiff commenced proceedings seeking declaration that contract with defendant not terminated – where Robb J made such a declaration – where plaintiff now brings second proceeding under the same contract seeking damages – whether it was unreasonable for plaintiff not to have brought damages claim in earlier proceedings – whether second proceedings should be stayed Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bazos v Doman [2001] NSWCA 347 Boles v Esanda Finance Corp Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 666 Bryant v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (1995) 57 FCR 287 Champerslife Pty Ltd v Manojlovski (2010) 75 NSWLR 245; [2010] NSWCA 33 Clayton v Bant [2020] HCA 44; (2020) 385 ALR 41 Egglishaw v Australian Crime Commission (2007) 164 FCR 224; [2007] FCAFC 183 Gibbs v Kinna [1998] VSCA 52; [1999] 2 VR 19 Habib v Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 231 Hannigan v Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 321 Henderson v Henderson (1843) 3 Hare 100; 67 ER 313 Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd v Hannigan [2020] NSWCA 82 Ling v Commonwealth (1996) 68 FCR 180 Macquarie Bank Ltd v National Mutual Life Association of Australia Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 543 Mandeville v Better Lending Pty Ltd [2021] SASCA 28 Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips (1974) 131 CLR 286 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507; [2015] HCA 28 Vehicle Monitoring Systems Pty Ltd v SARB Management Group Pty Ltd (t/as Database Consultants Australia) [2020] FCA 6; (2020) 149 IPR 370) Wong v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2004) 146 FCR 10; [2004] FCAFC 242 Zavodnyik v Alex Constructions Pty Ltd (2005) 67 NSWLR 457; [2005] NSWCA 438 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Francis Gregory Hannigan (Plaintiff/Respondent) Inghams Enterprises Pty Limited (Defendant/Applicant) Representation: Counsel: M S Henry SC (Plaintiff/Respondent) P S Braham SC with D Neggo (Defendant/Applicant)