Rodrigues v customOz Services Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 379

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Rodrigues v customOz Services Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 379 Hearing dates: 11 April 2023 Date of orders: 17 April 2023 Decision date: 17 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Rees J Decision: Summons dismissed Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION — dispute resolution clause – works completed – invoices rendered – clients complain – invoices reviewed and replaced by new invoices – mediator appointed –invoices reviewed again and replaced by final invoice – without prejudice correspondence – adjudication. PAYMENT CLAIM — whether valid payment claim given earlier invoices – s13(6)(b), SOPA – where earlier invoices withdrawn, final invoice complied with s 13. PAYMENT SCHEDULE — whether without prejudice offer is a payment schedule — without prejudice offer did not indicate why scheduled amount was less — without prejudice correspondence unlikely to be a payment schedule – confidential communication – inadmissible – respondent cannot pay amount in offer absent acceptance of offer by claimant –provision of without prejudice communication to adjudicator may result in manifest error of law. Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) ss 13(6)(b), 14, 16, 17, 22 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 131(2) Cases Cited: Ardnas (No 1) Pty Ltd v J Group (Aust) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 805 Brodyn Pty Ltd v Davenport [2004] NSWCA 394; (2004) 61 NSWLR 421 Crown Green Square Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2021] NSWSC 1557 Galafassi v Kelly (2014) 87 NSWLR 119; [2014] NSWCA 190 GPI Leisure Corporation Ltd (in Liq) v Yuill (1997) 42 NSWLR 225 Kitchen Xchange v Formacon Building Services [2014] NSWSC 1602 Minimax Fire Fighting Systems Pty Ltd v Bremore Engineering (WA) Pty Ltd [2007] QSC 333 Multiplex Constructions v Luikens [2003] NSWSC 1140 NC Refractories Pty Ltd v Consultant Bricklaying Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 842 Nouvelle Homes t/as Wilson & Hart v Hatch [2009] WASC 63 Piety Constructions Pty Ltd v Megacrane Holdings Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 309 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR; [2018] HCA 4 Southern Han Breakfast Point Pty Ltd (In liq) v Lewence Construction Pty Ltd (2016) 260 CLR 340; [2016] HCA 52 Style Timber Floor Pty Ltd v Krivosudsky (2019) 100 NSWLR 133; [2019] NSWCA 171 Tenstat Pty Ltd v Permanent Trustee Australia Ltd (1992) 28 NSWLR 625 Vannella Pty Ltd v TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1379 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Frank Rodrigues (First Plaintiff) Janina Rodrigues (Second Plaintiff) customOz Services Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Bland (Plaintiffs) Ms BK Nolan (First Defendant)