J&Z Holding (Aust) Pty Ltd v Vitti Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 2

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: J&Z Holding (Aust) Pty Ltd v Vitti Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 2 Hearing dates: 23 August 2023 Date of orders: 30 January 2024 Decision date: 30 January 2024 Before: Payne JA at [1]; Kirk JA at [2]; Griffiths AJA at [3] Decision: The appeal is dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Construction — Principles –Significance of poor drafting – whether a sum payable under a contract should be characterised as a "conventional deposit", repayable in the event of the vendors' default and recoverable in a claim for restitution, or as an option fee that became and remained the property of the grantor Cases Cited: Amnico Holdings Ltd v Griese [2016] 2 Qd R 512 Blanco v Wan [2021] NSWSC 273; (2021) 20 BPR 41,223 BP7 Pty Ltd v Gavancorp Pty Ltd (2021) 104 NSWLR 359; [2021] NSWSC 265 CCP Australian Airships Ltd v Primus Telecommunications Pty Ltd [2004] VSCA 232; (2005) ASAL 55-139 Iannello v Sharpe (2007) 69 NSWLR 452; [2007] NSWCA 61 J&Z Holding (Aust) Pty Ltd v Vitti Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1718 Kazacos v Shuangling International Development Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1504; 18 BPR 36,353 Luu v Sovereign Developments Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 40; (2006) 12 BPR 23,629 Manufacturers House Pty Limited v Ashington No 147 Pty Limited [2005] NSWSC 767; (2005) 12 BPR 23,913 Manufacturers House Pty Limited v Ashington No 147 Pty Limited [2005] NSWSC 767; (2005) 12 BPR 23,913 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457; [1933] HCA 25 Newlander Development Pty Ltd v Jung Kyun Han [2023] QSC 94 O'Dea v Allstates Leasing System (WA) Pty Ltd (1983) 152 CLR 359; [1983] HCA 3 S&C Nicola Pty Ltd v Peter Holmes Investment Pty Ltd (2022) 108 NSWLR 165; [2022] NSWCA 72 Seven Cable Television Pty Ltd v Telstra Corp Ltd [2000] FCA 350 Workers Trust & Merchant Bank Ltd v Dojap Investments Ltd [1993] AC 573 Category: Principal judgment Parties: J&Z Holding (Aust) Pty Ltd (Appellant) Vitti Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Michael Patrick Hannah (Second Respondent) Janet Lee Santwire (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Condon SC (Appellant) R Angyal SC (Respondents)