Ling v Beyond Development Group Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 685

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ling v Beyond Development Group Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 685 Hearing dates: 11, 15-18 November 2021 Date of orders: 30 May 2022 Decision date: 30 May 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the plaintiffs' claim against the second and fourth defendants with costs. 2. Enter judgment for the plaintiffs against the third defendant in the sum of $800,000 plus interest and costs. 3. Direct that any brief written submissions as to costs of the second and fourth defendants be filed within 14 days with a view, if possible, to dealing with costs on the papers Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Alleged misleading or deceptive conduct – Accessorial lability GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY – Contract of guarantee – Deeds – Fraud – Whether second defendant signed deed – Whether fourth defendant falsely attested signing of deed NEGLIGENCE – Duty of care where claim for pure economic loss – Whether witness owed duty of care – Loss of opportunity case – Issues as to reliance and causation – Defences – Proportionate liability, concurrent wrongdoers, contributory negligence Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5D(3)(b), 34A(1) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) s 87CC(1), Schedule 2 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 38 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 127(3), 129(3) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 128, 140 Legal Profession Uniform Legal Practice (Solicitor) Rules 2015, r 11 National Electronic Conveyancing Law (NSW) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 56C Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 52 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 25.14 Cases Cited: Aardwolf Industries LLC v Tayeh [2020] NSWCA 301 About Life Pty Ltd v Maddocks Lawyers [2021] NSWSC 1370 Allen v Tobias (1958) 98 CLR 367 Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Badenach v Calvert (2016) 257 CLR 440; [2016] HCA 18 Banque Commerciale SA (in liq) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279 Briess v Woolley [1954] AC 333 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chandra v Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd (2007) 13 BPR 24,675; [2007] NSWSC 694 Chapman v Luminis Pty Ltd (No 4) (2001) 123 FCR 62; [2001] FCA 1106 Clark Equipment Credit of Australia Ltd v Kiyose Holdings Pty Ltd (1989) 21 NSWLR 160 Colgate-Palmolive Company v Cussons Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 225; [1993] FCA 536 Commercial Banking Co of Sydney Ltd v R H Brown & Co (1972) 126 CLR 337 Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594; [1990] HCA 17 Delany v Tenison (1758) 3 Bro PC 659; 1 ER 1559 Ellison v Vukicevic (1986) 7 NSWLR 104 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Ginelle Finance Pty Ltd v Diakakis [2007] NSWSC 60 Glueck v Stang (2008) 76 IPR 75; [2008] FCA 148 Gors v Henderson, unreported; Supreme Court of WA (Steytler J); Library No 980499, 7 September 1998 Graham v Hall (2006) 67 NSWLR 135; [2006] NSWCA 208 Gray v Haig (1854-1855) 20 Beav 219; 52 ER 587 Hastie Group Ltd (in liq) v Bourne; Hastie Group Ltd (in liq) v Moore [2017] NSWSC 709 Houghton v Arms (2006) 225 CLR 553 Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council [2012] NSWSC 1026 In the matters of Earth Civil Australia Pty Ltd, RCG CBD Pty Ltd, Bluemine Pty Ltd, Diamondwish Pty Ltd and Rackforce Pty Ltd (all in liq) [2021] NSWSC 966 Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 612; [1987] HCA 23 Jainti Pty Ltd v Fraser Panorama Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 744 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Katsilis v Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (1977) 18 ALR 181 Kayteal Pty Ltd v Dignan (2011) 15 BPR 29,515; [2011] NSWSC 197 Lloyd v Grace, Smith & Co [1912] AC 716 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Manly Council v Byrne and Anor [2004] NSWCA 123 Matouk v The Entrance Seabreeze Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 649 Musa v Alzreaiawi [2020] NSWSC 638 Musa v Alzreaiawi [2021] NSWCA 12 National Commercial Banking Corporation of Australia Limited v Cheung (1983) 1 ACLC 1326 National Roads and Motorists' Association Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union (2019) 291 IR 28; [2019] FCA 1491 NEC Information Systems Australia Pty Limited v Linton (Wood J, 17 April 1985, unreported) Ninemia Maritime Corp v Trave Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG; The Niedersachsen [1984] 1 All ER 398 Nominal Defendant v Cardin (2017) 79 MVR 210; [2017] NSWCA 6 NWR FM t/a North West Radio v. Broadcasting Commission of Ireland & Anor [2004] IEHC 109 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Perpetual Trustee Company Limited v Peter Ishak [2012] NSWSC 697 Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Milanex Pty Ltd (in liq) [2011] NSWCA 367 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 492; [1985] HCA 34 Rosebanner Pty Ltd v Energy Australia (2009) 223 FLR 406; [2009] NSWSC 43 Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society v Reg Austin Insurance Pty Limited (1995) 9 ACLR 909 Sellers v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332; [1994] HCA 4 Sergienko v AXL Financial Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1610 Severstal Export GmbH v Bhushan Steel Ltd (2013) 84 NSWLR 141; [2013] NSWCA 102 State Bank of NSW Ltd v Yee (1994) 33 NSWLR 618 Steinberg v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1975) 134 CLR 640; [1975] HCA 63 Stellar Vision Operations Pty Ltd v Hills Health Solutions Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 144 Street v Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd (2009) 223 FLR 245; [2009] NSWSC 1 Superbarn Supermarkets Pty Ltd v Cotrell Pty Ltd [2016] ACTSC 49 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board (2001) 206 CLR 1; [2001] HCA 19 The Ophelia [1916] 2 AC 206 Vella v Permanent Mortgages Pty Ltd (2008) 13 BPR 25,343; [2008] NSWSC 505 Vukicevic v Alliance Acceptance Co Ltd; Vukicevic v Ellison (1987) 9 NSWLR 13 Watson v Foxman(1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wickham v Marquis of Bath (1865) LR 1 Eq 17 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661; [1985] HCA 65 Texts Cited: Bruce Feldthusen, Economic Negligence (2000, 4th ed, Carswell) David Rolph et al, Balkin & Davis Law of Torts (2021, 6th ed, LexisNexis) at [13.24] Found B & Rogers D Eds (1999) Documentation of Forensic Handwritting Comparision and Identification Method: a Modular Approach, Journal of Forensic Document Examination 12 G E Dal Pont, Law of Costs (2009, 2nd ed, LexisNexis) Gino Dal Pont, Law of Agency (2020, 4th ed, LexisNexis) R F Norton, R J A Morrison, H J Goolden, Norton on Deeds (1928, 2nd ed) Torts Cases and Commentary (2017, 8th ed, Lexis Nexis) Young, Newton and Cahill, Conveyancing Service New South Wales (2003, Lexis Nexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kuo Shu Ling (First Plaintiff) Chuan Dian International Trade Co Ltd (Second Plaintiff) Beyond Development Group Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Liping Wang (Second Defendant) Peter Zhuang (Third Defendant) Pang (trading as O Pang & Co) Oliver (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: DP O'Connor with P Lin (Plaintiffs) DC Eardley (Second Defendant) DA Lloyd SC with C Robertson (Fourth Defendant)