Walter Construction -v- Walker Corporation [2001] NSWSC 283

(2001) 47 ATR 48 Reported Decision : [2001] NSWSC 283 [2001] ACL Rep 110 NSW 30 [2001] ACL Rep 65 NSW 4

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Walter Construction -v- Walker Corporation [2001] NSWSC 283 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Construction List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55028/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 31.7.01, 1.8.00, 2.8.00, 3.8.00, 7.8.00, 8.8.00, 9.8.00, 25.8.00 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 April 2001

PARTIES : Walter Construction Group Ltd -v- Walker Corporation Ltd & Ors JUDGMENT OF : Hunter J

COUNSEL : Plaintiff: M A Pembroke SC, P F Liney, S Goldstein Defendant: G A Palmer QC, M G Rudge SC, N Manoursaridis SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: Corrs Chambers Westgarth Defendant: Baker McKenzie CATCHWORDS : Construction contract - reference of all issues under Pt 72 - report of referee - referee's findings of fact and law disputed - principles applicable - construction deed varied orally - waiver of common law and contractual limitations on oral variation of deed - deed varied to waive liquidated damages - repudiation of varied deed by principal - interference in certification - insistence on impossible standard of practical completion - no bona fide belief in that standard - rescinding for repudiation without recourse to termination provisions of deed - contractor entitled to quantum meruit - incidence of GST on judgment. Super Pty Ltd v SJP Formwork (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Chloride Batteries Australia Ltd v Glendale Chemical Products (1988) 17 NSWLR 60 Foxman Holdings Pty Ltd v NMBE Pty Ltd (1994) 38 NSWLR 615 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v C E Heath Underwriting Services & Others; Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Kinhill Engineers (1995) 8 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-231 Carr v J A Berriman Pty Ltd (1953) 89 CLR 327 Freeman & Lockyer (A Firm) v Buckhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Ltd (1964) 2 QB 480 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Maguire v Makaronis (1996-7) 188 CLR 449 Beach Petroleum NL v Abbott Tout (1999) 33 ACSR 1 Bray v Ford [1896] AC 44 Re Goldcorp Exchange Ltd (In Receivership) [1995] 1 AC 74 Keogh v Dalgety & Co Ltd (1916) 22 CLR 402 CASES CITED : Panama & South Pacific Telegraph Company v India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Co (1875) LR 10 Ch App 515 Parker v McKenna [1874] LR 10 Ch App 96 Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co v Ansell (1888) 39 CH D 339 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1987-99) 164 CLR 387 Amann Aviation Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (1990) 22 FCR 527 Roadshow Entertainment Pty Ltd v ACN 053006269 Pty Ltd (1997) 42 NSWLR 462 Switz Pty Ltd v Globind Pty Ltd (2000) 33 ACSR 723 Huskisson RSL Sub-branch Club Ltd v Sullivan (1990) 20 NSWLR 332 R v Wallis; ex parte Employers Association of Wool Selling brokers (1949) 78 CLR 529 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Turner Corporation Limited (Receiver and Manager appointed) v Austotel Pty Ltd (1994) 13 BCL 378 Duke Group Ltd (In Liq) v Pilmer (1999) 73 SASR 64 DECISION : Judgment for the Plaintiff and orders in terms of par 492 of these reasons.