Sinclair v Balanian [2024] NSWCA 144

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sinclair v Balanian [2024] NSWCA 144 Hearing dates: 14 March 2024 Date of orders: 7 June 2024 Decision date: 07 June 2024 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Payne JA at [33]; Kirk JA at [34] Decision: In proceedings 2023/259476: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) The appellants are to pay the respondents' costs. In proceedings 2023/259477: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) The appellant is to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Settlement agreement — Poor drafting — Formation — Distinction between formation and construction — Identity of parties a question of formation — Intention to form legal relations — Reference to surrounding circumstances — Parties intended to make an agreement CONTRACTS — Identity of parties — Whether directors signed in their personal capacity — Relevance of counterparts clause — Parties intended to be bound including as individuals DEEDS — Improperly executed — Relationship between deeds and contracts — Presence of agreement within improperly executed deed — Parties intended to make an agreement Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) ss 38, 51A Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 127 Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) ss 35, 36 Uniform Civil Procedural Rules 2005 (NSW) r 7.10(2)(b) Cases Cited: Abram v AV Jennings Ltd (2002) 84 SASR 363; [2002] SASC 417 Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Limited v Gardiner (2008) 238 CLR 570; [2008] HCA 57 Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v KS Easter (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 Alonso v SRS Investments (WA) Pty Ltd [2012] WASC 168 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 BH Australia Constructions Pty Ltd v Kapeller [2019] NSWSC 1086; (2019) 100 NSWLR 367 Bombardier Inc v Avwest Aircraft Pty Ltd [2020] WASCA 2 Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village Pty Ltd v Gora [2011] NSWCA 396; (2011) 82 NSWLR 665 Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems Pty Ltd v Jet Aviation Australia Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 280 Clark Equipment Credit of Australia Ltd v Kiyose Holdings Pty Ltd (1989) 21 NSWLR 160 Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Ltd v McCabe (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 397 Darzi Group Pty Ltd v Nolde Pty Ltd (2019) 100 NSWLR 394; [2019] NSWCA 210 Doughty-Pratt Group Ltd v Perry Castle [1995] 2 NZLR 398 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423; [1978] HCA 12 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640 Elpis Maritime Co Ltd v Marti Chartering Co Inc [1992] 1 AC 21 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc [2002] HCA 8; (2002) 209 CLR 95 Fiona & John Sinclair Pty Ltd v Burns Bay Services Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 789 G R Securities v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Giliberto v Kenny (1983) 57 ALJR 283 Harris v Burrell & Family Pty Ltd [2010] SASCFC 12; (2010) 271 LSJS 326 Homburg Houtimport BV v Agrosin Ltd (The Starsin) [2004] AC 715; [2003] UKHL 12 Internaut Shipping GmbH & Anor v Fercometal Sarl [2003] EWCA Civ 812; [2003] 2 Lloyds LR 430 London County Council v Agricultural Food Products Ltd [1955] 2 QB 218 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303; 15 BPR 29,465 Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 70; (2001) 210 CLR 181 Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Heurtey SA (2014) 89 NSWLR 633; [2014] NSWCA 184 Manicaros v Commercial Images (Aust) Pty Ltd (in liq) [2024] QCA 40 Manton v Parabolic Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 361 Masters v Cameron [1954] HCA 72; (1954) 91 CLR 353 Nurisvan Investment Ltd v Anyoption Holdings Ltd [2017] VSCA 141 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 218 CLR 451 Pavlovic v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 313; (2015) 90 NSWLR 605 Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Health Minders Pty Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 673 Pugwall Pty Ltd v Arthur McKenzie Investments Pty Ltd (2022) 68 VR 559; [2022] VSCA 272 Quadling v Robinson [1976] HCA 31; (1976) 137 CLR 192 Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society v Reg Austin Insurances Pty Ltd (1985) 9 ACLR 909 Shogun Finance Ltd v Hudson [2004] 1 AC 919; [2003] UKHL 62 Singh v De Castro [2017] NSWCA 241 South Australia v Commonwealth [1962] HCA 10; (1962) 108 CLR 130 Stellar Vision Operations Pty Ltd v Hills Health Solutions Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 102 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 Trueman v Loder (1840) 11 Ad & El 589; 113 ER 539 Vuletic v Contributory Mortgage Nominees Ltd (2006) 7 NZCPR 552 Young v Lamb [2001] NSWCA 225 Young v Schuler (1883) 11 QBD 651 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, Heydon on Contract (Thomson Reuters, 2019) NC Seddon, Seddon on Deeds (2nd edition, Federation Press, 2022) Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2023/259476 Fiona Leanne Sinclair (First Appellant) Fiona & John Sinclair Pty Ltd (Second Appellant) Ashod Balanian (First Respondent) Launch Partners Pty Ltd (Second Respondent)