Harper v Harper [2024] NSWSC 1540

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Harper v Harper [2024] NSWSC 1540 Hearing dates: 22–24 April, 9 May 2024 Date of orders: 2 December 2024 Decision date: 02 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: See [187]-[191] Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Formation — Acceptance of offer — Correspondence with offer CONTRACTS — Formation — Agreement — Uncertainty and incompleteness CONTRACTS — Formation — Contracts requiring written evidence — Contracts for sale of land or interest in land CONTRACTS — Formation — Conditional promises — Subject to finance CONTRACTS — Construction and interpretation — Parol evidence rule — Prior negotiations CONTRACTS — Construction — Extrinsic evidence — Prior negotiations CONTRACTS — Unconscionable conduct — Special disadvantage CONTRACTS — Undue influence — Actual undue influence CONTRACTS — Misrepresentation — Fraudulent misrepresentation CONTRACTS — Remedies — Damages — Proof of loss or damage EQUITY — Equitable charges and liens — Vendor's lien Legislation Cited: Conveyancers Licensing Regulation 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Aboody v Ryan [2012] NSWCA 395 Ah Sam v Mortimer [2021] NSWCA 327 Allen v Carbone (1975) 132 CLR 528 Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 604; [1988] HCA 16 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; (1774) 98 ER 969 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362; [1956] HCA 81 Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457; [1998] HCA 66 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Brown v Barber [2020] WASC 84 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 592; [2004] HCA 60 Cargill Australia Ltd v Viterra Malt Pty Ltd (No 28) [2022] VSC 13 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447; [1983] HCA 14 Crouch v Hooper (1852) 16 Beav 182; 51 ER 747 Derry v Peek [1889] UKHL 1; (1889) 14 App Cas 337 Effem Foods Pty Ltd v Lake Cumbeline Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 15; (1999) 161 ALR 599 Et-China.com International Holdings Ltd v Cheung [2021] NSWCA 24; (2021) 388 ALR 128 Forrest v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2012) 247 CLR 486; [2012] HCA 39 Girchow Enterprises Pty Ltd v Ultimate Franchising Group Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 420 GJB Building Pty Ltd v Al&PB Property Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 782 Hanna v Raoul [2018] NSWCA 201 Hewett v Court (1983) 149 CLR 639; [1983] HCA 7 Ho v Powell (2001) 51 NSWLR 572; [2001] NSWCA 168 John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 Johnson v Buttress (1936) 56 CLR 113; [1936] HCA 41 Johnson v Smith [2010] NSWCA 306 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 392; [2013] HCA 25 Krakowski v Eurolynx Properties Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 563; [1995] HCA 68 Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621; [1992] HCA 61 Magill v Magill (2006) 226 CLR 551; [2006] HCA 51 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 McFarlane v McFarlane [2021] VSC 197 Mentink v Olsen [2020] NSWCA 182 Nitopi v Nitopi (2022) 109 NSWLR 390; [2022] NSWCA 162 Potts v Miller (1940) 64 CLR 282; [1940] HCA 43 Radovanovic v Stekovic [2024] NSWCA 129 Re Kit Digital Australia Pty Ltd (in liq) [2014] NSWSC 1547 Sindel v Georgiou (1984) 154 CLR 661; [1984] HCA 58 Stubbings v Jams 2 Pty Ltd (2022) 276 CLR 1; [2022] HCA 6 Thorne v Kennedy (2017) 263 CLR 85; [2017] HCA 49 Tomanovic Multitown Pty Ltd v Interlux Projects Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 190 Turner v Windever [2003] NSWSC 1147 Union Fidelity Trustee Co of Australia Ltd v Gibson [1971] VR 573 Vadasz v Pioneer Concrete (SA) Pty Ltd (1995) 184 CLR 102; [1995] HCA 14 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wossidlo v Catt (1934) 52 CLR 301; [1934] HCA 52 Texts Cited: EI Sykes, Law of Securities (5th ed, 1993, Lawbook Co) JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence (13th Aus Ed, 2021, LexisNexis) JD Heydon, Heydon on Contract (Lawbook Co, 2019) Sir Frederick Jordan, Chapters on Equity in New South Wales (6th ed, 1947) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Brenda Harper (Plaintiff/Cross-defendant) Troy Harper (First Defendant/First Cross-claimant) Donna Harper (Second Defendant/Second Cross-claimant) Representation: Counsel: N J Simpson (Plaintiff/Cross-defendant) C D Freeman (Defendants/Cross-claimants)