Martinus Rail Pty Ltd v Qube RE Services (No 2) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2024] NSWSC 1483

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Martinus Rail Pty Ltd v Qube RE Services (No 2) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2024] NSWSC 1483 Hearing dates: 18 October; 15 November 2024 Date of orders: 15 November 2024 Decision date: 20 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Parker J Decision: See [183]-[185] Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION — Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) ('SOPA') — adjudication of payment claims — adjudicator's obligation to give reasons — adjudicator's obligation to consider respondent's submissions — "legal unreasonableness" — jurisdictional error COSTS — party/party — multiple claims with mixed success by plaintiff — costs follow the event on a claim-by-claim basis — apportionment based on costs solely referable to each claim — plaintiff to pay first defendant's costs solely referable to unsuccessful or not-pressed claims — first defendant to pay plaintiff's costs of proceedings Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 1999 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Akierman Holdings Pty Limited v Akerman (No 3); In the matter of Akierman Holdings Pty Limited (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 869 Binah Constructions Pty Ltd v PTMG Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 872 Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd (2023) 112 NSWLR 225 Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd (No 6) [2023] NSWSC 2023 Icon Co (NSW) Pty Ltd v Australia Avenue Developments Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 339 Insite Construction Services Pty Ltd v Daniels Civil Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 33 John Holland Pty Ltd v Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2007] NSWCA 19 Martinus Rail Pty Ltd v Qube RE Services (No 2) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 1223 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332 Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd v Luikens [2003] NSWSC 1140 Perform (NSW) Pty Ltd v MEV-AUS Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 157 Smith v Madden (1946) 73 CLR 129 Southern Oil Refining Pty Ltd v Hydrodec Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 336 Waters v PC Henderson (Australia) Pty Ltd [1994] NSWCA 338 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Qube RE Services (No 2) Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Martinus Rail Pty Limited (First Defendant) John Tuhtan (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J C Giles SC/ T J Boyle/ J Bridgett (Plaintiff) S Robertson SC/ A Langshaw (Defendant)