Bellas v Powers [2023] NSWSC 1198

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bellas v Powers [2023] NSWSC 1198 Hearing dates: 27 July 2023 Decision date: 10 October 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Robb J Decision: See [95] – [100] Catchwords: CONTRACTS — penalties — where facility agreement provided for "Discounted Rate" where no event of default occurs or is subsisting and higher "Standard Rate" on event of default — whether imposition of "Standard Rate" unenforceable as a penalty CIVIL PROCEDURE — separate determination of questions Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 28.2 Cases Cited: Aquamore Credit Equity Pty Ltd v Hung; First on First Development Pty Ltd v Aquamore Credit Equity Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1681 Arab Bank Australia Ltd v Sayde Developments Pty Ltd (2016) 93 NSWLR 231; [2016] NSWCA 328 Australia Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd v Lindfield Developments Pty Ltd; Guan v Lindfield Developments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 99; (2017) 18 BPR 36,683 Bay Bon Investments Pty Ltd v Selvarajah [2008] NSWSC 1251 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor Co Ltd [1915] AC 79 Guardian Mortgages Pty Ltd v Miller [2004] NSWSC 1236; (2004) 12 BPR 22,833 HomeSec Finance Express Pty Ltd v Richardson [2012] NSWSC 1375 Hung v Aquamore Credit Equity Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 272 Kellas-Sharpe v PSAL Ltd [2013] 2 Qd R 233; [2012] QCA 371 Robophone Facilities Ltd v Blank [1966] 1 WLR 1428 First Cash Flow Solutions Pty Ltd v Saad [2023] NSWSC 686 Yarra Capital Group Pty Ltd v Sklash Pty Ltd [2006] VSCA 109 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Theo Bellas (First Plaintiff) Artos Espresso Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) Tommy Wayne Powers (First Defendant) Rosemary Ann Powers (Second Defendant) Peter Karbone (Third Defendant) Bosilka Stojcevska (Fourth Defendant) Berna Karadag (Fifth Defendant/Interested Party) Haluk Karadag (Sixth Defendant/Interested Party) Representation: Counsel: J E O'Sullivan (Plaintiffs) V Bedrossian SC (First and Second Defendants) J Rodgers (Fifth and Sixth Defendants/Interested Parties)