Amaca Pty Ltd formerly known as James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v CSR Ltd [2001] NSWSC 324

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Amaca Pty Ltd formerly known as James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v CSR Ltd [2001] NSWSC 324 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50053/1999 HEARING DATE(S) : 9, 10, 11, 18 and 19 April 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 May 2001

PARTIES : Amaca Pty Ltd formerly known as James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) CSR Ltd (Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Bergin J

COUNSEL : CG Gee QC/TGR Parker (Plaintiff) PW Taylor SC/JE Fernon (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Allen Allen & Hemsley (Plaintiff) Toomey Pegg Drevikovsky (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : [DEEDS] - Construction - Release in Deed of partnership dissolution - Whether Release includes claim for contribution for damages awarded to end users of asbestos products produced by partnership in claim brought many years later in which only one partner is sued - Cautionary principle to be applied in approach to construction. [EQUITY] - If such claim is included in Release, whether in fairness and equity the releasee is entitled to rely upon it. LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Partnership Act 1892 (NSW) Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA (In Liquidation) v Ali & Ors [2001] 1 All ER 961 Brambles Holdings Limited v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61 Cloutte v Storey (1911) 1 Ch 18 Cole v Gibson (1750) 1 Ves. Sen. 503; 27 ER 1169 General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd v Midland Bank Ltd [1940] 2 KB 388 Grant v John Grant & Sons Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 112 Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society (1998) 1 All ER 98 Lindo v Lindo (1839) 1 Beav. 496; 48 ER 1032 CASES CITED : Lyall v Edwards (1861) 6 H & N 337 Malik v Bank of Credit and Commerce Internation SA (In liq); Mahmud v Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA (In liq) [1997] 3 All ER 1; [1998] AC 20 MMI General Insurance Ltd v Baktoo (2000) 48 NSWLR 605 Morgan Equipment Company & Ors v Rodgers [No.2] (1993) 32 NSWLR 467 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gubbins (1992) 28 NSWLR 26 Ramsden v Hylton (1751) 2 Ves Sen 304; 28 ER 196 Salkeld v Vernon (1758) 1 Eden 64; 28 ER 608 Turner v Turner (1880) 14 Ch D 829 Wickman Tools Sales Limited v F.L. Schuler A.G. [1974] AC 235 DECISION : Release in Deed not a bar to plaintiff bringing proceedings.