Liu v Lam [2024] NSWSC 1306

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Liu v Lam [2024] NSWSC 1306 Hearing dates: 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 27 February, 13 March 2024. Further written submissions received on 27 March and 4 April 2024 Date of orders: 18 October 2024 Decision date: 18 October 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: The Court orders and directs: (1) The plaintiff shall file and serve Short Minutes of Order reflecting this judgment within 28 days of the publishing of the judgment. (2) If there is any dispute as to the form of the Short Minutes of Order filed and served by the plaintiff in accordance with Order (1), then the defendant shall file and serve an alternative form of Short Minutes of Order within 35 days of the publishing of this judgment. (3) The Short Minutes of Order shall make provision for the receipt by the Court of submissions as to any adjustment to the judgment sum for any monies paid into a Chinese Court by the defendant, interest and costs (not exceeding five pages) in the event of any dispute as to those matters. The Short Minutes of Order shall also make provision for the filing and service of evidence in the case of a dispute as to costs. (4) In the event any one or more of the issues concerning monies paid into a Chinese Court by the defendant, interest and costs are resolved, the parties shall provide a note accompanying the Short Minutes of Order to that effect in which case the Court may deal with the consent orders administratively in Chambers. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – Formation – Agreement – Acceptance of offer – communication of acceptance – whether agreement executed by both parties CONTRACTS – Formation – Intention to create legal relations – whether agreement indemnified plaintiff for loss occasioned by prior judgment debt EVIDENCE – Credibility of evidence EVIDENCE - s 191 Evidence Act - status of agreed facts – whether agreed facts and issues in dispute constituted an "agreement" – whether evidence before the court warrants displacement or modification of agreed facts – use to which agreed facts may be put PARTNERSHIPS AND JOINT VENTURES – Whether contract of partnership – Interpretation – presumptions – evidence of Chinese law – absence of common law in China – contribution towards losses – no partnership found PROCEDURE – equitable set-off – no basis for set-off or repayment CONTRACTS – penalties – whether interest claimed under agreement is penal – whether different interest rate should apply – interest under contract unenforceable CONTRACTS – Mitigation Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 100 Evidence Act 1995 Partnership Act 1892 (NSW) ss 1, 9, 24(1) Cases Cited: Andrews v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2012) 247 CLR 205; [2012] HCA 30 Arab Bank Australia Ltd v Sayde Developments Pty Ltd (2016) 93 NSWLR 231; [2016] NSWCA 328 Australian Securities and Investments Commission BHF Solutions Pty Ltd (2022) 293 FCR 330; [2022] FCAFC 108 Bonython v The Commonwealth [1951] AC 201; (1950) 81 CLR 486 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153; [2001] NSWCA 61 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 282; [2002] HCA 17 Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co [1893] 1 QB 256 Chan v Zacharia (1984) 154 CLR 178 Cubillo v Commonwealth (No 2) (2000) 103 FCR 1; [2000] FCA 1084 Damberg v Damberg (2001) 52 NSWLR 492; [2001] NSWCA 87 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor Co Ltd [1915] AC 79 Edwards v Skyways Ltd (Edwards) [1964] 1 WLR 349 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95; [2002] HCA 8 Farmers' Mercantile Union and Chaff Mills Ltd v Coade (1921) 30 CLR 113 Fazio v Fazio [2012] WASCA 72 Forsyth v Gibbs [2009] 1 Qd R 403; [2008] QCA 103 Friend v Brooker (2009) 239 CLR 129; [2009] HCA 21 Galati v Deans (No 2) (2018) 133 ACSR 516; [2018] NSWSC 1813 Gibson Motor Sport Merchandise Pty Ltd v Forbes [2005] FCA 749 Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd v Quinn (1910) 10 CLR 674 Hawes v Dean [2014] NSWCA 380 Helmos Enterprises Pty Ltd v Jaylor Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 235; (2005) 12 BPR 23,021 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1; 29 ALR 577; 54 ALJR 345 HP Mercantile Pty Ltd v Dierickx (2013) 306 ALR 53; [2013] NSWCA 479 James v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (1992) 37 FCR 445 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Mao v Bao [2023] NSWCA 278 Mineralogy Pty Ltd v Sino Iron Pty Ltd (No 6) (2015) 329 ALR 1; [2015] FCA 825 Minter v Minter (2000) 10 BPR 18,133; [2000] NSWSC 100 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd (2011) 15 BPR 29,545; [2011] NSWCA 297 Nadinic v Drinkwater [2017] NSWCA 114 Neilson v Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 331; [2005] HCA 54 Norman v FEA Plantation Ltd (2011) 195 FCR 97; [2011] FCAFC 99 Nunn Holdings Pty Ltd v Tullamarine Estates Pty Ltd [1994] 1 VR 74 OLI 1 Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) v OLG 1 Pty Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1199 Orion Insurance Co plc v Sphere Drake Insurance plc [1992] 1 Lloyd's Rep 239 Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2016) 258 CLR 525; [2016] HCA 28 Quadling v Robinson (1976) 137 CLR 192 Redowood Pty Ltd v Mongoose Pty Ltd (2004) 49 ACSR 172; [2004] NSWSC 101 Roadshow Entertainment v ACN 053 006 269 Pty Ltd (1997) 42 NSWLR 462 Sagacious Procurement Pty Ltd v Symbion Health Ltd (formerly Mayne Group Ltd) [2008] NSWCA 149 Sangha v Baxter [2009] NSWCA 78 Shahid v Australasian College of Dermatologists [2008] FCAFC 72; (2008) 168 FCR 46 Steinberg v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1975) 134 CLR 640; [1975] HCA 63 The Crown v Clarke (1927) 40 CLR 227 United Dominions Corp Ltd v Brian Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 1; 60 ALR 741; 59 ALJR 676 Warner v Hung, in the matter of Bellpac Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (In Liquidation) (No 2) [2011] FCA 1123; (2011) 297 ALR 56 Woods & White v Hopkins [2016] WASC 16 Yacoub v Commissioner of Taxation (2012) 292 ALR 128; [2012] FCA 678 Texts Cited: Anson's Law of Contract, 27th Edition Heydon on Contract (Thomson Reuters, 1st edition, 2019) On Equity (Thomson Reuters, 2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tuo Liu (Plaintiff) Kin Lam (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J R Willis (Plaintiff) D Robinson SC and Bradley Smith (Defendant) Solicitors: Piper Alderman (Plaintiff) Baker McKenzie (Defendant) File Number(s): 2020/117870 Publication restriction: Nil