Unique Commercial Group Pty Ltd v Cusumano [2024] NSWCATAP 204

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Unique Commercial Group Pty Ltd v Cusumano [2024] NSWCATAP 204 Hearing dates: 12 August 2024 Date of orders: 16 October 2024 Decision date: 16 October 2024 Jurisdiction: Appeal Panel Before: Seiden SC DCJ, Deputy President A Suthers, Principal Member Decision: (1) Time to appeal is extended until 29 July 2024 in respect of the grounds identified at [53] only. (2) The appeal is allowed in part. (3) Order 1 made 24 May 2024 in proceedings 2022/00395939 is set aside. (4) The matter is remitted to the Tribunal, differently constituted, to determine: (a) whether there was valuable consideration passing from the respondent for the 2020 contract; and (b) to make consequential orders based on that finding. (5) The parties are to file any written submissions in relation to costs within 14 days and are to reply to each other's submissions 7 days thereafter. Submissions are to include whether the parties consider that the issue of costs may be determined on the papers. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION — Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) — Statutory warranty under s 18B — time limit of statutory warranty under s 48K(7) — "major defect" for purposes of s 18E(1)(b) APPEALS — internal appeal under s 80 of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 as of right "on any question of law" — relevant principles regarding leave to appeal — whether a late redraft of the grounds of appeal requires an extension of time — whether to grant leave to extend time — the importance of articulating a question of law with precision Legislation Cited: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alexandria Landfill Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW (2020) 103 NSWLR 479; [2020] NSWCA 165 Amirbeaggi v Matrix Group Co Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 21 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 AZC20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2023] HCA 26 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Batshon v Suttons Motors Homebush Pty Limited [2024] NSWCATAP 114 Bianco Walling Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (2020) 275 FCR 385; [2020] FCAFC 50 Bimson, Roads & Maritime Services v Damorange Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 734 Bobolas v Waverley Council [2016] NSWCA 139 Boulos v Martin (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 161 C v W [2015] NSWSC 1774 Collector of Customs v Agfa Gevaert (1996) 186 CLR 389; [1996] HCA 36 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280; [1993] FCA 456 Collins v Urban [2014] NSWCATAP 17 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33 Craig v Shallita [2024] NSWCATAP 112 Da Costa v The Queen (1968) 118 CLR 186; [1968] HCA 51 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Eastman v Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District [2024] NSWCATAP 94 El Mohamad v Lin [2024] NSWCATAP 139 Ferella v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2014] NSWCA 378 FSO v Secretary, Department of Education [2024] NSWCATAP 154 Hamod v State of New South Wales and Anor [2011] NSWCA 375 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1; [1980] HCA 16 Hossain v Minister for Immigration [2018] HCA 34 Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd v Fourtounas [2020] NSWCA 325 Jandson Pty Ltd v James [2021] NSWCATAP 274 John Prendergast & Vanessa Prendergast v Western Murray Irrigation Ltd [2014] NSWCATAP 69 Johnson v Nachar [2024] NSWCATAP 135 Kramer v Stone [2023] NSWCA 270 Kudrynski v Orange City Council [2024] NSWCA 33 Liu v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2024] NSWSC 382 Lombard Farms Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2013] NSWADTAP 42 Macpherson v the Queen (1981) 147 CLR 512; [1981] HCA 46 McCann v Parsons [1954] HCA 70 Medical Council of New South Wales v Mooney [2024] NSWCA 180 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko Wallsend Limited (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Al Miahi [2001] FCA 744 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation v Orr [2019] NSWCA 231 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Limited [2020] NSWCCA 220 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCCA 220 Orr v Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCCA 39 Property Investors Alliance Pty Ltd v C88 Project Pty Ltd (in liq) [2023] NSWCA 291 R v PL [2009] NSWCCA 256 Re the Adoption of Andrew and Alistair [2023] NSWSC 596 Renda v Wu [2016] NSWCATAP 238 S&G Homes Pty Ltd t/as Pavilion Homes v Owen [2015] NSWCATAP 190 Schwartz Family Co Pty Ltd v Capitol Carpets Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 223 Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Smith (2017) 95 NSWLR 597; [2017] NSWCA 206 Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd v Collector of Customs (1995) 59 FCR 6; [1995] FCA 707 Targeted Property Investments Pty Ltd v Look Up Technologies Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 416 Thomas and Naaz Pty Ltd (ACN 101 491 703) v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2022] NSWCATAP 220 Thomas and Naaz Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2023] NSWCA 40 Unique Commercial Group Pty Ltd v Cusumano [2024] NSWCATAP 141 University of Wollongong v Metwally [1985] HCA 28 Williams v R (1986) 161 CLR 278; [1986] HCA 88 Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd atf Chan & Naylor Paramatta Trust [2020] NSWCA 62 Wollondilly Shire Council v Styles [2024] NSWCATAP 104 Texts Cited: Mark Aronson, Matthew Groves and Greg Weeks, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (Thomson Reuters, 6th ed, 2017) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Unique Commercial Group Pty Ltd (Appellant) Richard Cusumano (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Martin (Respondent)