Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 239

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 239 Hearing dates: 7-8 March 2023 Date of orders: 20 March 2023 Decision date: 20 March 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Darke J Decision: Jurisdictional error found in relation to parts of adjudication determinations (see at [132] and [180]). Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) ("the Act") – adjudication determinations – whether adjudication determinations are affected by jurisdictional error – whether the adjudicator failed to meet essential requirements for the existence of a valid adjudication determination under the Act – whether the adjudicator failed to consider all submissions duly made – whether the adjudicator failed to address the merits of claims made – whether the adjudicator failed to afford the parties procedural fairness – jurisdictional errors found in respect of parts of the adjudication determinations – appropriate relief to be given where the Court has the power to set aside the whole or any part of the adjudication determinations pursuant to s 32A of the Act Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), ss 14, 20, 21, 22, 32A Cases Cited: Acciona Infrastructure Australia Pty Ltd v Chess Engineering Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1423 Brodyn Pty Ltd v Davenport (2004) 61 NSWLR 421; [2004] NSWCA 394 Brolton Group Pty Ltd v Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 63 Cockram Construction Ltd v Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd (2018) 97 NSWLR 773; [2018] NSWCA 107 Coordinated Construction Co Pty Ltd v JM Hargreaves (NSW) Pty Ltd (2005) 63 NSWLR 385; [2005] NSWCA 228 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Goodwin Street Developments Pty Ltd v DSD Builders Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 712; [2018] NSWCA 276 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 Icon Co (NSW) Pty Ltd v Australia Avenue Developments Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 339 JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v Inpex Operations Australia Pty Ltd (2018) 334 FLR 314; [2018] NTCA 6 Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd v Monford Group Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 491 Malek Fahd Islamic School Ltd v Minister for Education and Training (No 2) [2017] FCA 1377 Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd v Luikens [2003] NSWSC 1140 Musico v Davenport [2003] NSWSC 977 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 95 ALJR 441; [2021] HCA 17 Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 96 ALJR 737; [2022] HCA 26 Pacific General Securities Ltd v Soliman & Sons Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 13 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v DDI Group Pty Ltd (2017) 95 NSWLR 82; [2017] NSWCA 151 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 Rhomberg Rail Australia Pty Ltd v Concrete Evidence Pty Limited [2019] NSWSC 755 YTO Construction Pty Ltd v Innovative Civil Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 110 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ceerose Pty Ltd (Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant) A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd (First Defendant/Cross-Claimant) John Tuhtan (Second Defendant/Second Cross-Defendant) ABC Dispute Resolution Service (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Robertson SC with Mr D Hume (Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant) Mr F Hicks SC with Mr L Gor (First Defendant/Cross-Claimant)