Ye v Chen [2022] NSWCA 219

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ye v Chen [2022] NSWCA 219 Hearing dates: 13 September 2022 Date of orders: 03 November 2022 Decision date: 03 November 2022 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [43]; Mitchelmore JA at [44] Decision: Application for leave to appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — construction of handwritten document promising refund of deposit paid by respondent to applicant's company for migration agency services — whether applicant signed document in personal capacity or as company director — presumption of personal liability arising from unqualified signature not rebutted by evidence of contrary intention — consideration provided by respondent in the form of forbearance to sue — conclusion supported by surrounding circumstances including repeated demands on applicant for details of visa application Cases Cited: Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424; [2004] HCA 28 Ankar Pty Ltd v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 549; [1987] HCA 15 Ariadne Steamship Co Ltd v James McKelvie & Co [1922] 1 KB 518 Bofinger v Kingsway Group Ltd (2009) 239 CLR 269; [2009] HCA 44 Chan v Cresdon Pty Ltd (1989) 168 CLR 242; [1989] HCA 63 Cherry v Steel-Parke (2017) 96 NSWLR 548; [2017] NSWCA 295 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Edlin v Williams [1998] QCA 439; [2000] ANZ Conv R 43 Gadd v Houghton (1876) 1 Ex D 357 HDI Global Specialty SE v Wonkana No 3 Pty Ltd (2020) 104 NSWLR 634; [2020] NSWCA 296 Lester v Balfour Williamson Merchant Shippers Ltd [1953] 2 QB 168 Parker v Winlow (1857) 7 El & Bl 942 Texts Cited: Peter G Watts, Bowstead & Reynolds on Agency (22nd ed, 2021, Thomson Reuters) G E Dal Pont, Law of Agency (4th ed, 2020, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rebecca Haria Ye (Applicant) Yu Chen (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Alexis SC / A Cheema (Applicant) J L Harrison (Respondent)