RTA v Comerford; Welling v Comerford [2001] NSWSC 1044

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : RTA v Comerford; Welling v Comerford [2001] NSWSC 1044 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Construction List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55034/98 55035/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 18.7.01, 27.7.01, 10.8.01, 17.8.01 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 November 2001

PARTIES : 55034/98 Roads & Traffic Authority v William Kevin Comerford & Ors 55035/98 Gerhardus Hendrikus Welling & Anor v William Kevin Comerford & Ors JUDGMENT OF : Hunter J

RTA: M G Rudge SC & D A C Robertson COUNSEL : Comerford parties: S Y Reuben Wellings: M L Williams SC RTA: I V Knight Crown Solicitor SOLICITORS : Comerford parties: Cordato Partners Wellings: Carroll & O'Dea CATCHWORDS : Practice & procedure - adoption of report pursuant to Pt 72 r 13 - fresh point raised after hearing of reference and before adoption of report - fresh point raised to rely on High Court restatement of applicable principles after reference - nature of discretion under Pt 72 r13 - inherent jurisdiction to permit amendment and to re-open - discretion distinguished from nature of discretion to permit raising of a fresh point on appeal - party estopped from pursuing cause of action by consenting to formulation of questions for Pt 72 references and by participating in references - adoption of report save for ultimate finding of liability - leave to amend to raise fresh point. Super Pty Ltd v SJP Formwork (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Walter Construction v Walker Corporation (2001) NSWSC 283 CASES CITED : 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 Insurances Cases 61-231 at 75,533 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 180 ALR 145 Suttor v Gundowda Proprietary Limited (1950) 81 CLR 418 DECISION : In terms of par 143.