Lee v Lee [2022] NSWSC 181

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lee v Lee [2022] NSWSC 181 Hearing dates: 24 February 2022 Date of orders: 24 February 2022 Decision date: 24 February 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Summons dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – termination of contract for the sale of land due to breach of condition by the purchaser in lodging a caveat over the subject land – whether the condition relied upon by the vendor in terminating the contract was in fact a condition – whether the vendor induced or invited the purchaser to breach the contract – whether a failure on the part of the vendor to complete the contract by date specified in notice to complete precluded the vendor for terminating for purchaser's breach of condition – whether readiness, willingness and ability to perform one's contractual obligations necessary to exercise an express right of termination – whether the vendor's right to terminate was lost by effluxion of time Cases Cited: Allphones Retail Pty Ltd v Hoy Mobile Pty Ltd (2009) 178 FCR 57; [2009] FCAFC 85 Barrak Corporation Pty Ltd v Jaswil Properties Pty Ltd (2016) 18 BPR 35,759; [2016] NSWCA 32 Bettini v Gye (1876) 1 QBD 183 Foran v Wight (1989) 168 CLR 385 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61 Inlon Pty Ltd v Celli SpA [2017] NSWSC 569 Peter Turnbull & Co Pty Ltd v Mundus Trading Co (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1954) 90 CLR 235 Willis v Crosland [2021] VSCA 320 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sieun Lee (Plaintiff) Annie Lee (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Norrie and Dr J J Y Eun (Plaintiff) Mr D A Smallbone (Defendant)