Sydney Trains v Argo Syndicate AMA 1200 (No 2) [2023] NSWDC 381

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sydney Trains v Argo Syndicate AMA 1200 (No 2) [2023] NSWDC 381 Hearing dates: 15, 16 November 2022; 29 March 2023 Date of orders: 15 September 2023 Decision date: 15 September 2023 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Andronos SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the first defendant against the plaintiff. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the costs of the first defendant as agreed or assessed on the ordinary basis. (3) Grant liberty to the parties to make an application to vary order (2) herein, by email to my associate, within 14 days. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Express terms CONTRACTS — Formation — Incompleteness — Implication of terms – Breach – Causation — Novus actus interveniens – Waiver INSURANCE — Liability insurance — Professionals - Exclusions — Definitions INSURANCE — Liability insurance — Public liability INSURANCE – Construction – Exclusion clauses – Performance warranties – Professional activity PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Release from Harman undertaking Legislation Cited: Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers) Act 2017 (NSW), s 5 Compensation to Relatives Act 1897 (NSW), s 3, s 4 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 601AG Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 136 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Waterbrook at Yowie Bay Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 224 Allianz Australia Ltd v Wentworthville Real Estate Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 100 Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1 Barclay v Penberthy (2012) 246 CLR 258 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 410 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v Carlton & United Breweries Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 468 Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 Darlington Futures Ltd v Delco Australia Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 500 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 Helicopter Sales (Australia) Pty Ltd v Rotor-Work Pty Ltd (1974) 132 CLR 1 Holpitt Pty Limited v Varimu Pty Limited (1991) 29 FCR 576 Lexmead (Basingstoke) Ltd v Lewis [1982] AC 225 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd (2000) 203 CLR 579; [2000] HCA 65 Michael v Sydney Trains (District Court (NSW), 5 July 2018, unrep) Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Nigel Watts Fashion Agencies Pty Ltd v GIO General Insurance (1994) ANZIC 61.235 Reed v Peridis [2005] SASC 136 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Springfield Nominees Pty Ltd v Bridgeland Securities Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 217 State Government Insurance Office (Qld) v Crittenden (1966) 117 CLR 412 Sydney Trains v Argo Syndicate AMA 1200 [2021] NSWDC 685 Walker Group Constructions Pty Ltd v Tzaneros Investments Pty Ltd (2017) 94 NSWLR 108 Wallaby Grip Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (2010) 240 CLR 444; [2010] HCA 9 Young & Marten Ltd v McManus Childs Ltd [1969] 1 AC 454 Zorba Structural Steel Co Pty Ltd v Watco Pty Ltd (1993) 115 FLR 206 Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd v Regal Pearl Pty Ltd (2007) 14 ANZIC 61-715 Texts Cited: D K Derrington and R S Ashton, The Law of Liability Insurance (3rd ed, 2013, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sydney Trains (plaintiff) Argo Syndicate AMA 1200 (first defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Weinberger (plaintiff) Mr J Catsanos SC (first defendant)