Reward Interiors Pty Ltd v Master Fabrication (NSW AU) Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 536

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Reward Interiors Pty Ltd v Master Fabrication (NSW AU) Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 536 Hearing dates: 22, 23 November 2021; 28 February; 1, 2, 3, 31 March; 1, 4, 5 April 2022 Date of orders: 28 October 2022 Decision date: 28 October 2022 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant/cross-claimant in the sum of $21,753 inclusive of interest. (2) Otherwise dismiss the proceedings. (3) Reserve the question of costs. (4) Direct the parties to email to my associate by 5pm on 3 November 2022 written submissions on costs (maximum of 5 pages) and any documents on which they rely. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – contract - delay of subcontractor - liquidated damages clause - head contractor entitled to take over works – impact of head contractor taking over works on rights of the parties – variations – assessment of value - damages Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999, s 32 District Court Act 1973, s 134 Cases Cited: Antaios Compania Naviera SA v Salen Rederierna AB [1985] AC 191 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36, (1973) 129 CLR 99 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99 Bank of Queensland Ltd v Chartis Australia Insurance Ltd [2013] QCA 183 Electricity Generation Corporation t/as Verve Energy v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7, (2014) 251 CLR 640 MacMahon Construction Pty Ltd v Crestwood Estates [1971] WAR 162 Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2001) 210 CLR 181; [2001] HCA 70 Masters v Cameron [1954] HCA 72; (1954) 91 CLR 353 Motor Yacht Sales Australia Pty Ltd v Blann [2020] NSWCA 349 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Peak Construction (Liverpool) Ltd v McKinney Foundations Ltd (1970) 1 BLR 111 Rainy Sky SA v Kookmin Bank [2011] 1 WLR 2900 Rinehart v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (2019) 267 CLR 514; [2019] HCA 13 Spiers Earthworks Pty Ltd v Landtec Projects Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) (2012) 287 ALR 360; [2012] WASCA 53 Visvalingam Pty Ltd v Vitarag Pty Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWDC 294 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Reward Interiors Pty Ltd (plaintiff) Master Fabrication (NSW AU) Pty Ltd (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr E White (plaintiff) Ms L Cooper-Hackman (from 28 February 2022) (defendant)