Western Freight Management Pty Ltd v Toll Transport Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 176

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Western Freight Management Pty Ltd v Toll Transport Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 176 Hearing dates: 9 November 2022 10 November 2022 15 November 2022 16 November 2022 13 December 2022 2 February 2023 (written submissions) 6 February 2023 7 February 2023 (written submissions) 8 February 2023 9 February 2023 10 February 2023 17 February 2023 (written submissions) 7 March 2023 8 March 2023 (written submissions) Date of orders: 26 May 2023 Decision date: 26 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Montgomery DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the Defendant/Cross Claimant, Toll in the proceedings against the Plaintiff/Cross Defendant, WFM in the sum of $13,484; (2) The Plaintiff/Cross Defendant, WFM is to pay interest to the Defendant/Cross Claimant, Toll in the sum of $2,232; and (3) The Plaintiff/Cross Defendant, WFM is to pay the Defendant/Cross Claimant, Toll's costs of the proceedings including pursuant to the orders of Gibson DCJ made 23 May 2022. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – Construction – Action in debt – Performance of services contractually prescribed – Breach of contract – Offer to perform – Damages – Conduct of case – Mistake – Restitution Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 131 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 20.14 Cases Cited: Andrews v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2012) 247 CLR 205; [2012] HCA 30 Automatic Fire Sprinklers Pty Ltd v Watson (1946) 72 CLR 435 Banque Commerciale SA (in liq) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Limited v Douglas John Challinor t/as Bedgebury Products & Services [2018] NSWSC 329 Butt v M'Donald (1896) 7 QLJ 68 Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] Fam 93, [1975] 3 All ER 333 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64; [1991] HCA 54 Coshott Family Pty Ltd v Lyons [2022] NSWCA 216 David Securities Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (1992) 175 CLR 353; [1992] HCA 48 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544; [2017] HCA 12 Electricity Generation Corp v Woodside Energy Ltd; Woodside Energy Ltd v Electricity Generation Corp (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Harris v Harris [2021] NSWCA 329 Jireh International Pty Ltd v Western Export Services Inc [2011] NSWCA 137 Jones v Schiffmann (1971) 124 CLR 303 Laundy Hotels (Quarry) Pty Ltd v Dyco Hotels Pty Ltd [2023] HCA 6 Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406 at 447; [1983] HCA 11 Melbournehomes.com Pty Ltd (In Liq), Re [2020] VSC 854 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2016) 258 CLR 525; [2016] HCA 28 Placer (Granny Smith) Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (2003) 196 ALR 257; (2003) 77 ALJR 768; [2003] HCA 10 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd; Turnbull v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Schwarstein v Watson (1985) 3 NSWLR 134 Secured Income Real Estate (Aust) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596; [1979] HCA 51 Shevill v Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620; [1982] HCA 47 Stellar Vision Operations Pty Ltd v Hills Health Solutions Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 144 Stern v McArthur (1988) 165 CLR 489 at 526; [1988] HCA 51 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 57 ALJR 197 Workman, Clark & Co Ltd v Lloyd Brazileno [1908] 1 KB 968 Ye v Chen [2022] NSWCA 219 Young v Queensland Trustees Ltd (1956) 99 CLR 560 Texts Cited: Macquarie Online Dictionary 2022 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Western Freight Management Pty Ltd, Plaintiff/Cross Defendant Toll Transport Pty Ltd, Defendant/Cross Claimant Representation: Counsel: Mr J Young, Counsel for the Plaintiff/Cross Defendant Mr Stanton, Counsel for the Defendant/Cross Claimant