Schrader v Broach [2024] NSWCA 14

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Schrader v Broach [2024] NSWCA 14 Hearing dates: 11 December 2023 Date of orders: 7 February 2024 Decision date: 07 February 2024 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; Stern JA at [3]. Decision: (1) Leave granted to rely upon an amended notice of appeal. (2) Summons seeking leave to appeal dismissed. (3) Amended notice of appeal dismissed as incompetent. (4) Applicants to pay respondent's costs of the proceedings in this Court. Catchwords: APPEALS – leave to appeal – whether leave required – monetary threshold – where no realistic prospect of parties being awarded damages in excess of $100,000 EVIDENCE – witness evidence – reliability of witness evidence – fallibility of memory over time – where applicants had strong views as to evidence consistent with them having become entrenched in a factual position not necessarily based upon actual recollection – no error in primary judge's assessment of evidence CONSUMER LAW – misleading or deceptive conduct – "likely" to mislead or deceive – where standard form cost plus contract prepared with price estimate of $300,000 – whether price estimate misleading or deceptive – clear warnings in contract CONSUMER LAW – misleading or deceptive conduct – contract for residential renovation works – requirement that plaintiff prove loss – where property partially renovated – price paid under contract less than value of building works completed – where plaintiff seeking damages to reflect increased cost of building works CONSUMER LAW – unconscionable conduct – whether conduct unconscionable – breach of terms of standard form cost plus contract – where respondent sent invoices and spreadsheets rather than budget reports – invoices issued by respondent in no way prevented applicants from querying costs claimed Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law, ss 4, 18, 21, 29, 236 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 75A(5), 101 Cases Cited: ACCC v Lux Distributors Pty Ltd [2013] FCAFC 90 ADC v White [2001] NSWCA 9 ASIC v Kobelt (2019) 267 CLR 1; [2019] HCA 18 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 634; (2014) 317 ALR 72 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640; [2013] HCA 54 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 592; [2004] HCA 60 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304; [2009] HCA 25 Campbell v Campbell [2015] NSWSC 784 Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 Doepel & Associates Architects Pty Ltd v Hodgkinson [2008] WASCA 262 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Gates v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1986) 160 CLR 1 at 12; [1986] HCA 3 Gaynor v Attorney General for New South Wales (2020) 102 NSWLR 123; [2020] NSWCA 48 Gillard v Hunter Wire Products Pty Ltd trading as Hunter Screen Products (No 2) [2001] NSWCA 450 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Pty Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 Jaycar Pty Limited v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 Kronenberg v Bridge (2014) 26 Tas R 359; [2014] TASFC 10 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28 Mills v Walsh [2022] NSWCA 255 Murphy v Overton (2004) 216 CLR 388; [2004] HCA 3 Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2015) 236 FCR 199; [2015] FCAFC 50 Pitcher Partners Consulting Pty Ltd v Nevilles Bus Service Pty Ltd (2019) 271 FCR 392; [2019] FCAFC 119 Stubbings v Jams 2 Pty Ltd [2022] HCA 6; 96 ALJR 271 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) (1985) ALJR 481; [1985] HCA 28 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Xu v Jinhong Design Constructions Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 277 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Schrader (First Applicant) Jacqueline Schrader (Second Applicant)