Cruise v Cornish [2023] NSWSC 1126

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cruise v Cornish [2023] NSWSC 1126 Hearing dates: 18 August 2023 Date of orders: 15 September 2023 Decision date: 15 September 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: McGrath J Decision: See [133] Catchwords: EQUITY — equitable remedies — specific performance — two contracts for the sale of land — whether defendants' conduct amounted to breach of contract for failure to proceed with all due dispatch to obtain consent of the council to a plan of subdivision — meaning of "all due dispatch" — whether purchasers were ready, willing and able to perform their essential obligations under the contracts — whether the court ought to make an order for specific performance in circumstances where ongoing supervision likely — HELD — order for specific performance of the contracts made Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adderley v Dixon (1824) 1 Sim & St 607; 57 ER 239 Agricultural Equity Investments Pty Ltd v Westlime Pty Ltd (No 3) [2015] NSWLEC 75 Australia v MacDonald [2000] NSWSC 553 Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 604 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 Dungog Shire Council v Hunter Industrial Rental Equipment Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWLEC 153 Garling v Northern Beaches Council [2022] NSWLEC 1512 Golden Mile Property Investments Pty Ltd (in liq) v Cudgegong Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 100 Hobbs v Petersham Transport Co Pty Ltd (1971) 124 CLR 220 Klein v McMahon [2017] NSWSC 1531 Lewin v Lewin [2019] NSWSC 380 Mordue v Kroone [2009] NSWSC 255 Mulkearns v Chandos Developments Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 1132 Nobleza v Lampl (1986) 85 FLR 147 Parkes & Anor v Mamo [2016] NSWSC 1129 Pelley v Tebran Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1072 Pianta v National Finance & Trustees Ltd (1964) 180 CLR 146 Progress East Pty Ltd v Randwick City Council [2019] NSWLEC 1029 Rossi Recycling Pty Ltd v Buckland Valley Pty Ltd [2022] VSC 467 Santangelo v Yates Holdings Victoria Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 397 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Patricia Cruise (First Plaintiff) Nicola Jane Eagle (Second Plaintiff) Mark Anthony Cornish (First Defendant) Elvi Kirstan Neeme Wood (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: LT Fermanis (Plaintiffs) M Cornish (Self-Represented) (First Defendant)