J Family Motel Group Pty Ltd v Baset Super Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 1251

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: J Family Motel Group Pty Ltd v Baset Super Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 1251 Hearing dates: 3 September 2024 Date of orders: 11 October 2024 Decision date: 11 October 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Rees J Decision: Declarations that expert determination not binding, notice of termination of lease invalid and contract for sale and purchase of land is binding. Catchwords: EXPERT DETERMINATION – dispute between landlord and tenant settled by Deed – landlord agrees to sell property to tenant on terms – rental valuation to be obtained on assumption that lease ongoing – purchase price to be average of two jointly instructed valuers provided with rental valuation – whether valuers performed assigned task – principles at [66]-[69] – adequacy of expert's reasons, at [88]-[91]. FRUSTRATION – whether Contract for sale of land frustrated by valuer's failure to perform assigned task – principles at [96]-[101] – expert bound to perform assigned task – no evidence expert unavailable. Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 Cases Cited: AGL Victoria Pty Ltd v SPI Networks (Gas) Pty Ltd [2006] VSCA 173 Australian Vintage Ltd v Belvino Investments No 2 Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 275 Boland v Yates Property Corp Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 64 Cao v ISPT Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 188 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Davis Contractors Ltd v Fareham Urban District Council [1956] AC 696 Dura (Australia) Constructions Pty Ltd v Hue Boutique Living Pty Ltd (2013) 41 VR 636; [2013] VSCA 179 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544 GR Evans & Co Pty Ltd v Watts (Supreme Court (NSW), 23 October 1986, unrep) Halifax Life Ltd v Equitable Life Assurance Society [2007] 1 Lloyd's Rep 528 Haxglow Pty Ltd v Mirvac Retail Sub SPV Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 233 Heart Research Institute Ltd v Psiron Ltd [2002] NSWSC 646 Holt v Cox (1997) 23 ACSR 590 Kanivah Holdings Pty Ltd v Holdsworth Properties Pty Ltd (2002) 11 BPR 20,201; [2002] NSWCA 180 Laundy Hotels (Quarry) Pty Ltd v Dyco Hotels Pty Ltd [2023] HCA 6 Legal & General Life of Australia Ltd v A Hudson Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 314 Makita (Aust) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Rich (2005) 53 ACSR 110; [2005] NSWSC 149 Masters Home Improvement Pty Ltd v North East Solution Pty Ltd [2017] VSCA 88 North East Solution Pty Ltd v Masters Home Improvement Australia Pty Ltd (formerly Shellbelt Pty Ltd) [2016] VSC 1 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs v Charlesworth, Pilling and Co [1901] AC 373 Shoalhaven City Council v Firedam Civil Engineering Pty Ltd [2011] HCA 38 Strike Australia Pty Ltd v Data Base Corporate Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 205 Veba Oil Supply & Trading GmbH v Petrotrade Inc [2002] 1 Lloyd's Rep 295 Western Australian Planning Commission v Arcus Shopfitters Pty Ltd [2003] WASCA 295 Woolworths Group Ltd v Gazcorp Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 19 Texts Cited: Wayne Lonergan, The Valuation of Businesses, Shares and Other Equity (Allen & Unwin, 4th ed, 2003) Category: Principal judgment Parties: J Family Motel Group Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Baset Super Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Green SC / LR James (Plaintiff) A Ogborne (Defendant)