Zhong v Guan [2024] NSWCA 300

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Zhong v Guan [2024] NSWCA 300 Hearing dates: 25 June 2024 Date of orders: 18 December 2024 Decision date: 18 December 2024 Before: Payne JA at [1]; Kirk JA at [2]; Price AJA at [53] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Appellant to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – Construction – Whether poorly drafted deed created charge over property owned by respondent named as guarantor – Label of "rectification by construction" to be avoided – Courts may "correct" language and punctuation of contract by way of construction where obvious mistake established by parties' clear objectively ascertainable intention – Charge not created Cases Cited: Ankar Pty Ltd v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Ltd [1987] HCA 15; (1987) 162 CLR 549 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1973) 129 CLR 99 Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] UKHL 38; [2009] 1 AC 1101 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc [2002] HCA 8; (2002) 209 CLR 95 Fitzgerald v Masters [1956] HCA 53; (1956) 95 CLR 420 HDI Global Specialty SE v Wonkana No 3 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 296; (2020) 104 NSWLR 634 J & P Marlow (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hayes & McCabe [2023] NSWCA 117; (2023) 112 NSWLR 29 James Adam Pty Ltd v Fobeza Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 311; (2020) 103 NSWLR 850 Key v Key (1853) 4 De GM & G 73; 43 ER 435 Marley v Rawlings [2014] UKSC 2; [2015] AC 129 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd [2011] NSWCA 297; (2011) 15 BPR 29,545 National Australia Bank Ltd v Clowes [2013] NSWCA 179; (2013) 8 BFRA 600 Realestate.com.au Pty Ltd v Hardingham [2022] HCA 39; (2022) 277 CLR 115 Roberts v Investwell Pty Ltd (in liq) [2012] NSWCA 134; (2012) 88 ACSR 689 Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd v Ostwald Bros Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2019] NSWCA 11; (2019) 99 NSWLR 317 Simic v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation [2016] HCA 47; (2016) 260 CLR 85 Taylor v Owners - Strata Plan No 11564 [2014] HCA 9; (2014) 253 CLR 531 Willis Australia Ltd v AMP Capital Investors Ltd [2023] NSWCA 158; (2023) 113 NSWLR 1 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, Heydon on Contract (Thomson Reuters, 2019) Perry Herzfeld and Thomas Prince, Interpretation (3rd edition, Thomson Reuters, 2024) M Leeming, "The Limits of Rectification" (2023) 17 J Eq 122 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Yuping Zhong (Appellant) Ying Guan (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: