KPE Superannuation Fund Pty Limited v Two Tempe Holdings Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1614

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: KPE Superannuation Fund Pty Limited v Two Tempe Holdings Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1614 Hearing dates: 2 – 5 May 2022; 7, 25, 30 June 2022 Date of orders: 25 November 2022 Decision date: 25 November 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: The relevant deed was delivered by the first defendant in escrow. Given the applicable condition was not performed, the first and second defendant are not bound by the relevant deed. Plaintiff's claim is therefore dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — deeds — delivery — whether deed delivered to other side unconditionally or in escrow — where plaintiff did not put an alternative case that if deed not delivered then it was effective as simple contract Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 38 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 127 Cases Cited: Bank of Scotland v Henry Butcher & Co [2003] EWCA Civ 67 Bowker v Burdekin (1843) 11 M&W 128 Centuria Property Funds Ltd v Thorn Australia Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 104 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Taylor (1929) 42 CLR 80; [1929] HCA 13 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hall v Bainbridge (1848) 12 QB 699; 116 ER 1032 Hooker Industrial Development Pty Ltd v Trustees of the Christian Brothers (1977) 2 NSWLR 109 Macedo v Stroud [1992] 2 AC 330 Monarch Petroleum NL v Citco Australia Petroleum Limited [1986] WAR 310 NTT Australia Digital Pty Ltd v Cover Genius Services Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1378; 19 BPR 40,711 Pittmore Pty Ltd v Chan (2020) 104 NSWLR 62; [2020] NSWCA 344 Scook v Premier Building Solutions Pty Ltd (2003) 28 WAR 124; [2003] WASCA 263 Segboer v AJ Richardson Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 253; 16 BPR 31,235 Thorn Australia Pty Ltd v Centuria Property Funds Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1217 Wardley Australia Ltd v McPharlin (1984) 3 BPR 9500 Xenos v Wickham (1867) LR 2 HL 296 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence (13th Australian ed, 2021, LexisNexis) JD Heydon, Heydon on Contract (2019, Lawbook Co) RJA Morrison and H Goolden, Norton on Deeds (2nd ed, 1928, Sweet & Maxwell) N Seddon, Seddon on Deeds (2015, Federation Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: KPE Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ACN 114 428 367) as trustee for the Ellems Superannuation Fund (Plaintiff) Two Tempe Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 634 416 925) (First Defendant) Simon Quinn (Second Defendant) AFSH Nominees Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Docker with M Forgacs (Plaintiff) N Kidd SC (First and Second Defendants)