Seaforth Securities Pty Limited v Zoya Investments Pty Limited [2024] NSWSC 1061

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Seaforth Securities Pty Limited v Zoya Investments Pty Limited [2024] NSWSC 1061 Hearing dates: 29 July 2024 Date of orders: 21 August 2024 Decision date: 21 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court orders that: (1) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff compensatory damages in the sum of $8,676,614.74. (2) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff exemplary damages in the sum of $700,000.00. (3) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of this proceeding on an ordinary basis. Catchwords: NUISANCE – NEGLIGENCE – Environmental – contamination – assessment of damages – exemplary damages Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 12, 13 Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (NSW), ss 11, 13(2)(a), 14, 16, 17(4)(c), 46, 60(2) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 500(2) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 81 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), s 91 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 16.7, 30.1 Cases Cited: Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Uren (1966) 117 CLR 185 Delaware Mansions Ltd v Westminster City Council [2002] 1 AC 321 Environment Protection Authority v Zoya Investments Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 149 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Tweed Shire Council (2013) 85 NSWLR 514 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1 Qantas Airways Ltd v Mascot Galvanising (Holdings) Ply Ltd (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Windeyer J, 17 December 1998) Robson v Leischke [2008] NSWLEC 152 Seiwa Ply Ltd v Owners Strata Plan 35042 [2006] NSWSC 1157 Whitfield v De Lauret & Co Ltd (1920) 29 CLR 71 Winky Pop PTY LTD v Mobil Refining Australia PTY LTD [2015] VSC 348 Winky Pop Ply Ltd v Mobil Refining Australia Ply Ltd [2016] VSCA 187 XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 12 471 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Seaforth Securities Pty Limited (plaintiff) Zoya Investments Pty Limited (defendant) Representation: Counsel: James Hutton SC (plaintiff) Hannah Ryan (plaintiff) Nil (defendant)