Toma v Taylor Square TT Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 304

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Toma v Taylor Square TT Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 304 Hearing dates: 18 September 2024 Date of orders: 18 December 2024 Decision date: 18 December 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Ward P at [19]; Gleeson JA at [135] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed with costs. 2. Set aside the orders made by Rees J on 9 August 2024 and in lieu thereof order that the claim for specific performance as against the fifth defendant be dismissed with costs and dispense with compliance as to the rules of service. 3. Direct the appellant to file the amended notice of appeal within 7 days. 4. Dispense with the filing requirement for the respondents' notice of contention. Catchwords: GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY – Construction Scope of liability of guarantor – Where contract for sale of land and underlying businesses not completed by purchasers – Where vendor sought order for specific performance as against guarantor – Where order for specific performance granted by primary judge - Whether guarantor liable to perform purchasers' principal obligations – Appeal allowed Cases Cited: Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424; [2004] HCA 28 Ankar Pty Ltd & Arnick Holdings Ltd v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 549; [1987] HCA 15 Baeg v Wink Singh Pty Limited [2024] NSWSC 589 Bofinger v Kingsway Group Ltd (2009) 239 CLR 269; [2009] HCA 44 Canty v PaperlinX Australia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 309 Coast Securities No 9 Pty Ltd v Alabac Pty Ltd [1984] 2 Qd R 25 Fairborne Pty Ltd v Strata Store Noosa Pty Ltd [2009] QSC 250 House v King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Jowitt v Callaghan (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 512 Laundy Hotels (Quarry) Pty Ltd v Dyco Hotels Pty Ltd (2023) 276 CLR 500; [2023] HCA 6 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457; [1933] HCA 25 McGuiness v Norwich and Peterborough Building Society [2012] 2 All ER (Comm) 265 Moschi v Lep Air Services [1973] AC 331 Ryan v UPG 322 Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1293 Socratous v Koo (1993) 6 BPR 97,448 Sunbay Projects Pty Ltd v PR Wieland Holdings Pty Ltd [2010] QSC 368 Sunbird Plaza Pty Ltd v Maloney (1988) 166 CLR 245; [1988] HCA 11 Taylor Square TT Pty Ltd v Kinselas Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 987 Taylor Square TT Pty Ltd v Kinselas Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 799 Wharf Street Pty Ltd v Amstar Learning Pty Ltd [2004] QCA 256 Texts Cited: JW Carter, Carter's Breach of Contract (2nd ed, 2018, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mark Toma (Appellant) Taylor Square TT Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Taylor Square Fund Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: MR Pesman SC with DA Allen R Scruby SC with T Boyle