A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd v Meso Solutions Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 372

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd v Meso Solutions Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 372 Hearing dates: 5-6 December 2022, 8 February 2023 Date of orders: 17 April 2023 Decision date: 17 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Richmond J Decision: Application challenging the decision of the adjudicator dismissed. Claim for misleading or deceptive conduct under the ACL also dismissed, as no relevant misrepresentation was made. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) ("the Act") – adjudication determination – whether s 17(2) notice valid – whether clause requiring certain documents to be attached to payment claim in contract is void pursuant to s 34 of the Act CONSUMER LAW — misleading or deceptive conduct — whether representations were made Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), ss 8, 9, 11, 13, 17, 34 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 (Australian Consumer Law), ss 18, 20, 21, 232, 236 Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment Bill 2013 Cases Cited: All Season Air Pty Ltd v Regal Consulting Services Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 289 Blue v Ashley [2017] EWHC 1928 (Comm) Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Clyne v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 150 CLR 1; [1981] HCA 40 Edelbrand Pty Ltd v H M Australia Holdings Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 31 Et-China.com International Holdings Ltd v Cheung [2021] NSWCA 24; 388 ALR 128 Griffin Energy Group Pty Ltd v ICICI Bank Ltd [2015] NSWCA 29; 317 ALR 395 Helou v PD Mulligan Pty Ltd (2003) 57 NSWLR 74; [2003] NSWCA 92 John Holland Pty Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2007] NSWCA 19; 23 BCL 205 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kallin Pty Ltd v ACN 107 851 847 Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 124 Plaza West Pty Ltd v Simon's Earthworks (NSW) Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 279 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 Quickway Constructions Pty Ltd v Electrical Energy Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1140 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) MESO Solutions Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Navid King (Second Defendant) Adjudicate Today Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Foley (Plaintiff) Mr D Weinberger (First Defendant)