Carbone v Fowler Homes Pty Ltd; Carbone v Fowler Homes Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 192

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Carbone v Fowler Homes Pty Ltd; Carbone v Fowler Homes Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 192 Hearing dates: 22 July 2024 Decision date: 06 August 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; Mitchelmore JA at [154] Decision: In 2023/00443714, order that: 1. Appeal allowed in part. 2. Vary order 2 made by the District Court on 10 November 2023 by replacing "$21,759" by "$73,259". 3. Pursuant to s 101 of the Civil Procedure Act, order that interest is not payable on the judgment debt if it is paid within 28 days of today, however to the extent that the judgment debt remains outstanding after 28 days from today, it will attract interest pursuant to s 101 accruing from 10 November 2023. 4. Vary order 3 made by the District Court on 10 November 2023 by replacing "100" by "101". 5. Set aside orders 4 and 5 made by the District Court on 10 November 2023. 6. Direct the parties to supply agreed short minutes of order as to costs in this Court and the District Court within 14 days of today, or, in lieu of agreement, (a) direct each party to file and serve the orders for which he or it contends, together with submissions not exceeding five pages within 14 days of today, and (b) direct each party to file and serve submissions in reply within 7 days thereafter, with a view to issues of costs being resolved on the papers. In 2023/00443762, order that the appeal be dismissed. Catchwords: CONTRACT – contracts for residential building work – trial of claims for damages following dispute between owners and builder resolved by work being completed by builder – whether pleaded case extended to claim for damages for breach of contract, as opposed to deceit and statutory unconscionability – whether trial conducted on basis which departed from pleadings – whether primary judge erred in excluding valuation evidence and concluding no evidence of loss – effect of owners' delayed payment of progress claims on their claims for damages – calculation of damages Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law, ss 20, 21 and 236 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 149A, 149B and 149E Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW), s 9 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), s 18G Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 44 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 68, 75A Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 82 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 14.14, 28.2 and 51.40 Cases Cited: Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust v Northern Territory of Australia (2007) 157 FCR 255; [2007] FCAFC 31 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Midland Brick Co Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 693; (2004) 207 ALR 329 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (2012) 201 FCR 378; [2012] FCAFC 56 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559; [2001] HCA 1 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Youi Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1701 Baese Pty Ltd v RA Bracken Building Pty Ltd (1990) 6 BCL 137 Banque Commerciale SA (en liq) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Brougham v Edwards [2024] SASCA 59 Cappello v Hammond & Simonds NSW Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1021 Cawood v Cawood, in the matter of Cawood [2000] FCA 1786 Clarence City Council v Commonwealth of Australia (2020) 280 FCR 265; [2020] FCAFC 134 Commonwealth of Australia v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64; [1991] HCA 54 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 Cruse v Multiplex Ltd (2008) 172 FCR 279; [2008] FCAFC 179 Davis v Veigel [2011] NSWCA 170 Forrest v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2012) 247 CLR 486; [2012] HCA 39 GC NSW Pty Ltd v Galati [2020] NSWCA 326 Giuseppe and Matthew Carbone v Fowler Homes Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 29 Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 156 ER 145 Hodder Rook & Associates Pty Ltd v Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 279 Hooker v Gilling [2007] NSWCA 99 Ippolito v Cesco [2020] NSWSC 561 J-Corp Pty Ltd v Mladenis [2009] WASCA 157 Kirby v Sanderson Motors Pty Ltd (2002) 54 NSWLR 135; [2002] NSWCA 44 London Steam-Ship Owners' Mutual Insurance Association Ltd v Kingdom of Spain (No 4) [2021] EWCA Civ 1589; [2022] 3 All ER 970 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494; [1998] HCA 69 Martin v Najem [2022] NSWDC 479 McCrohon v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Misthold Pty Ltd v NSW Historic Sites and Railway Heritage Company Pty Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 561 Palmer-Bruyn and Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons (2001) 208 CLR 388; [2001] HCA 69 Philip Morris Inc v Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd (1981) 148 CLR 457; [1981] HCA 7 PNC Lifestyle Investments Pty Ltd v REW08 Projects Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 993 Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 216 CLR 53; [2003] HCA 75 Sabouni v Revelop Building and Developments Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 31 Slaveski v Nanevski Developments Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 145 State of New South Wales v Spedding [2023] NSWCA 180 Talifero v Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited as Trustee for the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 323 TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Anning (2002) 54 NSWLR 333; [2002] NSWCA 82 Troulis v Vamvoukakis [1998] NSWCA 237 Uszok v Henley Properties (NSW) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 31 Warramunda Village Inc v Pryde (2001) 105 FCR 437 Wolverhampton Corporation v Emmons [1901] 1 KB 515 Young v King [2016] NSWCA 282 Zavarco Plc v Nasir [2021] EWCA Civ 1217 Texts Cited: P Young, C Croft and M Smith, On Equity (2009, Lawbook Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: In 2023/00443714 Matthew Carbone (Appellant) Fowler Homes Pty Ltd (Respondent)