Robust Builders Pty Ltd v Barai & Anor (No.6) [2023] NSWDC 376

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Robust Builders Pty Ltd v Barai & Anor (No.6) [2023] NSWDC 376 Hearing dates: 22-25, 28-31 August 2023; 1, 5 - 7 September 2023 Date of orders: 15 September 2023 Decision date: 15 September 2023 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 363 Catchwords: CONTRACTS – building and engineering contracts - – builders' claim for unpaid invoices – question of date the contract was entered – whether collateral contract – whether owners liable for unpaid invoices – whether claimed variations proven - owners' cross-claim for defective and incomplete works – significance of issue of occupancy certificate and other compliance reports to proof of defective or incomplete works – significance of rectification order Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 96,100 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 69 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), ss 7, 10, 11, 18B, 18E, 18BA, 18G, 48E, 48F, 48K, 48L, 51 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 6.20, 14.14, 42.1 Cases Cited: Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner (2008) 238 CLR 570 Commissioner of Taxation v Sara Lee Household & Body Care (Australia) Pty Ltd (2000) 201 CLR 520 Concut Pty Ltd v Worrell (2000) 75 ALJR 312 Crown Melbourne Ltd v Cosmpolitan Hotel (Vic) Pty Ltd (2016) 260 CLR 1 Hoyt's Pty Ltd v Spencer (1919) 27 CLR 133 L'Estrange v Graucob Ltd (1934) 2 KB 394 Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd (2019) 267 CLR 560: Tallerman & Co Pty Ltd v Nathan's Merchandise (Victoria) Pty Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 93 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 Texts Cited: N Seddon and R Bigwood, Cheshire & Fifoot The Law of Contract (11th Australian ed, LexisNexis 2017) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robust Builders Pty Ltd (plaintiff/cross-defendant) Mr P Barai (defendant/cross-claimant 1) Mrs F Mahjabeen (defendant/cross-claimant 2) Representation: Mr D Lambley (solicitor) for the defendants/cross-claimant Mr R Mehndiratta (as director of and for the plaintiff/cross-defendant) File Number(s): 2018/00259451