National Engineering Pty Limited v Chilco Enterprises Pty Limited t/as Trojan Contracting [2001] NSWCA 291

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : National Engineering Pty Limited v Chilco Enterprises Pty Limited t/as Trojan Contracting [2001] NSWCA 291 revised - 2/10/2001 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41044/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 30/08/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 September 2001

PARTIES : National Engineering Pty Limited v Chilco Enterprises Pty Limited t/as Trojan Contracting JUDGMENT OF : Heydon JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 2; Ipp AJA at 9

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT 2258/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Windeyer J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : M S Willmott (Appellant) D J Cochrane (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Philip Boyce & Associates (Appellant) Larry Noble & Associates (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - Construction of terms - Breach and anticipatory breach - whether party repudiated contract by indicating a firm intention of unwillingness to perform - whether term breached where no reasonable time given for performance - whether party committed anticipatory breach by being wholly and finally unable to perform - no breach or anticipatory breach established - appeal dismissed. PROCEDURE - splitting of issues - need to define parameters of hearing limited to liability - need to prove that useful purpose will be served by enquiry as to damages. D Triden Properties Limited v Capita Financial Group Limited (Unreported, Court of Appeal, 26 November 1993) ICT Pty Limited v Sea Containers Limited (1994) 30 NSWLR 640 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1992-4) 179 CLR 332 D T R Nominees Pty Limited v Mona Homes Pty Limited (1978) 138 CLR 423 CASES CITED: Suttor v Gundowda Pty Limited (1950) 81 CLR 418 Louinder v Leis (1982) 149 CLR 509 Laurinda Pty Limited v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Limited (1989) 166 CLR 623 Carr v J A Berriman Pty Ltd (1953) 89 CLR 327 Sunbird Plaza Pty Limited v Maloney (1988) 166 CLR 245 Universal Cargo Carrier Corporation v Citati [1957] 2 QB 401 DECISION : (1) Appeal dismissed (2) Appellant to pay the respondent's costs.